Distribute 1/2 to x - 12 first to get 1/2x - 6. Combine -6 and 4 together to get -2. Your equation should now be 1/3x - 8 = 1/2x - 2. Subtract 1/3x on both sides to get 1/6x. Add 2 on both sides to get -6. Since you are dividing a fraction number, you want to do the opposite and instead multiply 6 on both sides to get your x value which is -36.