How do you solve an equation like this?

Question

I'm in pre-algebra and I've already learned how to solve easy equations like 4x = 26 but I want to know how to solve equations like 4x - 5 = 9x. I haven't gotten to the point in the school year that I have to learn this but I hate not knowing things so I wanted to learn how to do them ahead of time.

Answer 1

 4x - 5 = 9x

Write variable and constants a side by subtracting 9x from each side

 4x - 5 - 9x = 9x - 9x

Apply commutative property of addition: a + b = b + a

 4x - 9x - 5 = 9x - 9x

 4x - 9x - 5 = 0

Group like terms using distributive property: ac + bc = (a+b)c

(4 - 9)x - 5 = 0

Add 5 to each side

-5x - 5 + 5 = 5

-5x = 5

Divide each sid eby -5

x = -1