Question

How do you combine like terms and solve for the variable?
8 - 3x - 5x = -8

Answer 1

You would combine the 3x - 5x since they both have a variable leaving you with 8-8x=-8 then you would subtract the positive 8 from the negative 8 because you want to get the variable alone. this leaves you with -8x=-16 then to get the variable alone you would divide by -8 giving you x=2

Answer 2

8 - 3x - 5x = -8
8 - 8x = -8
-8x = -8 - 8
-8x = -16
8x = 16
x = 16/8
x = 2