X=20
3(x-1)-8=4(1+x)+5
1. Distribute
3x-3-8= 4+4x+5
2. Combine like terms
3x-11=4x+9
3. Add 11 or subtract 9 to both sides
3x-11+11=4x+9+11
or
3x-11-9=4x+9-9
3x=4x+20
or
3x-20=4x
If you did the first step then you subtract 4x from both sides
3x-4x=4x+20-4x
-x=20
Then you would divide by a negative 1 because there is an imagery 1 in front of the x.
-x/-1=20/-1
x=-20
If you did the second way then you would subtract 3x from both sides
3x-20-3x=4x-3x
-20=x
And you get the same answer for both ways