4-t = 3(t-1)-5 4-t = 3t-3-5 (Apply distributive property - this means you multiply everything within the brackets by the value in front of the brackets) 4-t+t = 3t-3-5+t (Add t on both sides - think of it like a scale, adding t to both sides won't make them unequal) 4 = 3t+t-3-5 (Now collect like terms) 4 = 4t-8 4 + 8 = 4t-8+8 (Add 8 on both sides) 12 = 4t 12/4 = 4t/4 (Divide both sides by 4) 3 = t