Question

1/4(-8x - 12) + -4 = 3/4(-8x - 12)

Answer 1

Here's our equation:

$\frac{1}{4} (-8x-12)-4=\frac{3}{4} (-8x-12)$

Factor out the left side

(-2x - 3) - 4 = 3/4 (-8x - 12)

Simplify

-2x - 7 = 3/4 (-8x - 12)

Factor out the right side

-2x - 7 = -6x - 9

Add 7

-2x = 6x - 2

Add 6x to isolate the variable

4x = -2

Divide by 4

x = - 1/2

Here is how I simplified both sides initially. I'll only be showing the right side because this is a LOT of typing.

Begin with 3/4 (-8x - 12)

Use rule $a*\frac{b}{c} = \frac{a * b}{c}$ to multiply

3(-8x-12)/4

Factor 3(-8x-12)

(-8x - 12) = (-4 * 2x - 4 * 3)

Simplify (-4 * 2x - 4 * 3)

-3 * 4 (2x+3)

- 12 (2x + 3)

Now that we've factored  3/4 (-8x - 12), we're left with- 12 (2x + 3)/4.

12/4 =3, giving us -3(2x + 3)

Distribute and simplify, then you're done.