Step 1: Simplify both sides of the equation.<span><span><span><span> −<span>3<span>(<span>k+7</span>)</span></span></span>−<span>5k</span></span>+4</span>=<span>23
</span></span>Step 2: Add 17 to both sides.<span><span><span><span> −<span>8k</span></span>−17</span>+17</span>=<span>23+17</span></span><span><span> −<span>8k</span></span>=40
-3(k+7)-5k+4=23 -3k-21-5k+4=23 Get rid of the numbers that aren't being multiplied by k: -3k-5k=23+21-4 Add like things: -8k=40 Divide by -8 on both sides to get k by itself and to make the equation even: k=-5