$\"\"$

\

The equation is $\"\"$ .

\

$\"\"$ (Apply distributive property: $\"\"$ )

\

$\"\"$ (Multiply: $\"\"$ )

\

$\"\"$ (Apply distributive property: a(b + c) = ab + ac)

\

$\"\"$ (Multiply: $\"\"$ )

\

$\"\"$ (Subtract: $\"\"$ ) $\"\"$

\

Apply subtraction property of equality: Subtract 6a from each side.

\

$\"\"$

\

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

\

$\"\"$

\

$\"\"$ (Apply additive inverse property: $\"\"$ )

\

$\"\"$ (Subtract: $\"\"$ ) $\"\"$

\

Apply addition property of equality: Add 24 to each side.

\

$\"\"$

\

$\"\"$ (Apply additive inverse property: $\"\"$ )

\

$\"\"$ (Add: $\"\"$ ) $\"\"$

\

Apply division property of equality: Divide each side by 12.

\

$\"\"$

\

$\"\"$ (Cancel common terms) $\"\"$

\

Check:

\

To check the solution, substitute $\"\"$ in original equation $\"\"$ .

\

$\"\"$

\

$\"\"$ (Multiply: $\"\"$ )

\

$\"\"$ (Add: $\"\"$ )

\

$\"\"$ (Subtract: $\"\"$ )

\

$\"\"$ (Multiply: $\"\"$ )

\

$\"\"$ (Subtract: $\"\"$ )

\

The equality is true. $\"\"$

\

The value of $\"\"$ .