Solve for a 1/8(4+a)=-1

$\frac{1}{8} (4 + a) = - 1$

Multiply both sides of the equation by $8$ .

$8 (\frac{1}{8} \cdot (4 + a)) = 8 \cdot - 1$

Simplify both sides of the equation.

Simplify the left side.

Simplify $8 (\frac{1}{8} \cdot (4 + a))$ .

Apply the distributive property.

$8 (\frac{1}{8} \cdot 4 + \frac{1}{8} a) = 8 \cdot - 1$

Cancel the common factor of $4$ .

Factor $4$ out of $8$ .

$8 (\frac{1}{4 (2)} \cdot 4 + \frac{1}{8} a) = 8 \cdot - 1$

Cancel the common factor.

$8 (\frac{1}{4 \cdot 2} \cdot 4 + \frac{1}{8} a) = 8 \cdot - 1$

Rewrite the expression.

$8 (\frac{1}{2} + \frac{1}{8} a) = 8 \cdot - 1$

Combine $\frac{1}{8}$ and $a$ .

$8 (\frac{1}{2} + \frac{a}{8}) = 8 \cdot - 1$

Apply the distributive property.

$8 (\frac{1}{2}) + 8 \frac{a}{8} = 8 \cdot - 1$

Cancel the common factor of $2$ .

Factor $2$ out of $8$ .

$2 (4) \frac{1}{2} + 8 \frac{a}{8} = 8 \cdot - 1$

Cancel the common factor.

$2 \cdot 4 \frac{1}{2} + 8 \frac{a}{8} = 8 \cdot - 1$

Rewrite the expression.

$4 + 8 \frac{a}{8} = 8 \cdot - 1$

Cancel the common factor of $8$ .

Cancel the common factor.

$4 + 8 \frac{a}{8} = 8 \cdot - 1$

Rewrite the expression.

$4 + a = 8 \cdot - 1$

Simplify the right side.

Multiply $8$ by $- 1$ .

$4 + a = - 8$

Move all terms not containing $a$ to the right side of the equation.

Subtract $4$ from both sides of the equation.

$a = - 8 - 4$

Subtract $4$ from $- 8$ .

$a = - 12$