Your Problem: 8.5+4(1-2.5k)=24.5 1st step: subtract 8.5 from both sides 4(1-2.5k)=24.5-8.5 4(1-2.5k)=16 2nd step: Divide both sides by 4 (1-2.5k)=16/4 (1-2.5k)=4 3rd step: Opening up the parentheses 1-2.5k=4 4th step: Subtract 1 from both sides -2.5k=4-1 -2.5k=3 4ht step: divide both sides by -2.5 k=-1.2