Final answer:
To solve the equation -4(x + 3) = 8 using the distributive property, distribute -4 to the terms inside the parentheses, isolate the variable by eliminating the constant term, and solve for x by dividing both sides by -4.
Step-by-step explanation:
To solve the equation -4(x + 3) = 8 using the distributive property, you need to distribute the -4 to both terms inside the parentheses. This means you multiply -4 by x and -4 by 3. So the equation becomes -4x - 12 = 8. Next, you isolate the variable by getting rid of the constant term (-12) by adding 12 to both sides of the equation. This gives you -4x = 20. Lastly, to solve for x, divide both sides of the equation by -4, resulting in x = -5.