First of all you collect like terms by moving the number -6x over to the left hand side which then becomes +6x as it crosses the equal to sign, likewise you move +4 over to the right hand side which then becomes -4. The equation is now 2x+6x=38-4, which when solved gives 8x=34. X is then made subject of formula by dividing both sides by 8 therefore x=34/8 which when reduced to the lowest term is 17/4
