A multi-step equation with and answer of -8 (Minimum of 4 steps)

Question

It is for a math project

Answer 1

3[ 4(x-3) + 2(x+8) ] + 2 [ 3(x-2) + 4(x-1) ] + [ 5(x-1) + 4(x+2)] - 3(x-3) = ???? when x=-8

So when x=-8, the linear equation has value:

3[ 4*-11 ] + 2[ 3*-10 + 4 * -9] + [ 5*-9 + 4 * -6] - 3*-11 =

3[ -44 ] + 2[-30 + -36] + -45 + -24 + 33 =

-132 + -132 + -45 + -24 + 33 =

-264 + -45 + -24 + 33 =

-264 + -69 + 33 =

-264 + -36 =

-300

The equation is:

3[ 4(x-3) + 2(x+8) ] + 2 [ 3(x-2) + 4(x-1) ] + [ 5(x-1) + 4(x+2)] - 3(x-3) = -300

step #1: distributive inside braces

3[ 4x-12 + 2x + 16] + 2[ 3x - 6 + 4x - 4] + [ 5x-5 + 4x + 8 ] - 3(x-3) = -300

step #2: combines like terms inside braces; distributes -3(x-3)

3[ 6x + 4] + 2[7x - 10] + [9x + 3] -3x+9 =-300

step #3: distributive over braces

18x + 12 + 14x - 20 + 9x + 3 - 3x + 9 = -300

step #4: combines like terms

38x +4 = -300

step #5: solves the 2 step equation

38x +4-4 = -300-4

38x = -304

x = -304/38 = -8

this is CLEARLY without a doubt 5 steps, probably more.

should be more than plenty