Remark
The trick here is to remove the brackets carefully. Once you have done that the problem is almost solved.
- 2 = - (n - 8) Multiply both terms inside the brackets by - 1
-1 * n = - n
-1 * -8 = + 8 Be very careful with that. Make sure you understand that two minus's make a plus.
- 2 = - n + 8 Add n to both sides.
-2 + n = -n + n + 8
-2 + n = 8 Add 2 to both sides.
-2 + 2 + n = 8 + 2
n = 10
You should check this.
-2 = -(10 - 8)
-2 = -(2)
- 2 = - 2 and it checks.