Final answer:
To solve the equation -8 (x - 1) = -32, distribute -8 across the parentheses, subtract 8 from both sides, and finally divide both sides by -8, which gives x = 5.
Step-by-step explanation:
The equation given is -8 (x - 1) = -32. To solve for x, start by distributing the -8 across the parentheses:
-8 * x + 8 = -32
Once the equation is simplified, it becomes:
-8x + 8 = -32
To isolate the variable x, you need to do two things: subtract 8 from both sides of the equation, and then divide both sides by -8. According to LibreTexts™, addition or subtraction of the same number on the two sides of an equation does not change the equality, so you can perform these operations freely.
-8x + 8 - 8 = -32 - 8
-8x = -40
Now, divide by -8 to get:
x = 5