1/4 (8x - 16) + 12x = - 2 (x + 4)

1/4 x (8x-16) + 12x = - 2 (x+4) factor out 4 from the expression 1/4 x 4 (2x-4) + 12x = - 2 (x + 4) distribute - 2 through the parenthesis - 2x-8 reduce the numbers with 4, 1/4 x (2x - 4) + 12x = - 2x-8 remove parenthesis, collect like terms, 14x-4=2x-8, combine 14x and 2x which is then 16x=-8+4, calculate the sum of - 8+4=4, then divide both sides by 16, it will the give you - 1/4