Remove parentheses
-2x + 12 - 9 = 2 + 9 + 2x
Simplify -2x + 12 -9 to -2x + 3
-2x + 3 = 2 + 9 + 2x
Simplify 2 + 9 + 2x to 2x + 11
-2x + 3 = 2x + 11
Add 2x to both sides
3 = 2x + 11 + 2x
Simplify 2x + 11 +2x to 4x + 11
3 = 4x + 11
Subtract 11 from both sides
3 - 11 = 4x
Simplify 3 - 11 to - 8
-8 = 4x
Divide both sides by 4
-8/4 = x
Simplify 8/4 to 2
-2 = x
Switch sides
x = -2