Distribute Numbers: Distribute the numbers outside the parentheses to the terms inside the parentheses.For the left side of the equation, multiply 3 by both x and −4.For the right side of the equation, multiply 2 by both −2x and 1.
Perform Distribution: Perform the distribution from Step 1.Left side: 3×x=3x and 3×(−4)=−12, so we have 3x−12.Right side: 2×(−2x)=−4x and 2×1=2, so we have −4x+2.Now the equation looks like this: 3x−12=−4x+2.
Get Terms Together: Get all the x terms on one side and the constant terms on the other side.To do this, add 4x to both sides to move the x terms to the left, and add 12 to both sides to move the constants to the right.
Perform Operations: Perform the operations from Step 3.Adding 4x to both sides gives us 3x+4x−12=−4x+4x+2, which simplifies to 7x−12=2.Adding 12 to both sides gives us 7x−12+12=2+12, which simplifies to 7x=14.
Solve for x: Solve for x by dividing both sides of the equation by 7.7x=14x=714x=2