8 x - 4 (5 - x) = -44
mutiply the bracket by -4
(-4)(5) = -20
(-4)(-x)= 4x
8x-20+4x= -44
8x+4x-20= -44 ( combine like terms )
12x-20= -44
move -20 to the other side
sign changes from -20 to +20
12x-20+20= -44+20
12x= -44+20
12x= -24
divide both sides by 12
12x/12= -24/12
Answer: x= -2