Question

Solve for x: −3 |x + 7| = −12

Answer 1

$-3|x + 7|=-12\quad |:(-3)\\\\|x+7|=4\\\\\\x+7=-4\qquad\vee\qquad x+7=4\\\\x=-4-7\qquad\vee\qquad x=4-7\\\\\boxed{x=-11\qquad\vee\qquad x=-3}$

Answer 2

First you divide both sides by -3
then you get |x + 7| = 4
what you do now is make two separate equations
drop the absolute value signs
x + 7 = 4 OR x + 7 = -4
subtract 7 from both sides AND BOTH EQUATIONS
x = -3 OR x = -11

lets check it!

-3 |-3 + 7| = -12                           -3 |-11 + 7| = -12
-3 |4| = -12                                  -3 |-4| = -12
-3 (4) = -12                                  -3 (4) = -12

yep! your answers are x = -3 OR x = -11

i hope this helps!!