first, you need to distribute the four to the -2x and the -5. you end up with -8x-20. you add 8 to your -20 and get -12. now your equation reads -8x-12=8x+4. you want to find x so you have to isolate it. you add 8x to both sides and then subtract 4 from both sides. now your equation is -16=16x. you divide both sides by 16 and you get x=-1