17x - 9(x + 4) = 3x - 26
First, expand to remove parentheses.
\(17x - 9x - 36 = 3x - 26\)
Second, subtract 17x - 9x to get 8x.
\(8x - 36 = 3x - 26\)
Third, add 36 to both sides.
\(8x = 3x - 26 + 36\)
Fourth, simplify.
\(8x = 3x + 10\)
Fifth, subtract 3x from both sides.
\(8x - 3x = 10\)
Sixth, subtract 8x - 3x.
\(5x = 10\)
Seventh, divide both sides by 5.
\(x = \frac{10}{5}\)
Eighth, since 2 goes into 5 to get 10, simplify the fraction to 2.
\(x = 2\)
Answer: x = 2
