If you distribute -4 through (5k-7), it equals -20k + 28. Then put on the other -2k on that side of the equals sign and you should have -22k + 28 = -2(9k+5) Then you need to distribute -2 through (9k+5) which equals -18k - 10. You then should have -22k+28=-18k-10. Add 22k to both sides to cancel it out, then you should have 28=4k-10. Add 10 to both sides to get the 4k by itself, which will be 38=4k, then divide both sides by 4 to get k by itself. 38/4 = 19/2. k = 19/2