Start by using the distributive property to simplify 8(1/4x+3/4):
8•1/4x=2x
8•3/4=6
The equation now reads: 2x+6-3=17. Subtract 3 from six and you get 2x+3=17.
You can now proceed to answer this like any two step linear equation.
2x+3=17
-3 -3
2x=14
x=7
7 is the solution to this equation. Great job!!