To solve this equation, and it is an equation because we have an equal sign, we use what is know as the distributive property. In other words we will "distribute" the -5 across all the numbers in parenthesis. This makes sure every number is treated equally, no number will feel as it they have treated unfairly. In fancy algebra terms this means: Algebraic distribution means to multiply each of the terms within the parentheses by the term outside the parentheses.
So:
-5 x 6y = -30y
-5 x 8 = -40
combine;
-30y -40=?
Now we set equal to 0 to solve for the y variable and we get:
-30y-40 = 0
solve algebraicly and we get: y= -40/30
plug this into where the y variable is and solve:
so we get (-30/1 x -40/30) -40 = 0
