Our current equation is: -8r -31 = -3(5r -6) To solve for this, we need to get r on one side of the equation and then simplify if needed. On the right side of the equation, we have a pending Distributive Property, which is when you multiply the number/variable outside of the parenthesis by all numbers/variables in the parenthesis. Let's simplify this Distributive Property to help understand our equation better. -3(5r -6) Multiply -3 by each number/variable separately (unless they are already being multiplied, like 2x, 1/2x, etc). -3(5r) + -3(-6). -3(5r) = -15r -3(-6) = 18 (both negatives need to be in parenthesis to keep a product as negative, and if you do not multiply them in that way, you will end up with a positive product). Your equation now is: -8r -31 = -15r + 18 Add 15r to both sides to get r on one side. 7r -31 = 18 is now our current equation. Add 31 to both sides to get 7r by itself. 7r = 49 is now our equation. r is still being multiplied by 7, so we need to do the opposite of multiplying by 7. Divide both sides by 7. r = 7. I hope this helps!