2x-8 if it means 2 times -8 then 2 times -8=2 time s8 times -1=16 times -16 if it is x is a placeholder then undistribute where ab+ac=a(b+c) so 2x-8 2(x)-2(4)=2(x-4) so the factored form is 2(x-4) there is no equation so we cannot solve for x 2x-8 could be equal to 3 or pi for all we know