Solve for x x/-4-5=-8

$\frac{x}{- 4} - 5 = - 8$

Step 1

Move the negative in front of the fraction.

$- \frac{x}{4} - 5 = - 8$

Step 2

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

Add $5$ to both sides of the equation.

$- \frac{x}{4} = - 8 + 5$

Add $- 8$ and $5$ .

$- \frac{x}{4} = - 3$

Step 3

Multiply both sides of the equation by $- 4$ .

$- 4 (- \frac{x}{4}) = - 4 \cdot - 3$

Step 4

Simplify both sides of the equation.

Simplify the left side.

Simplify $- 4 (- \frac{x}{4})$ .

Cancel the common factor of $4$ .

Move the leading negative in $- \frac{x}{4}$ into the numerator.

$- 4 \frac{- x}{4} = - 4 \cdot - 3$

Factor $4$ out of $- 4$ .

$4 (- 1) \frac{- x}{4} = - 4 \cdot - 3$

Cancel the common factor.

$4 \cdot - 1 \frac{- x}{4} = - 4 \cdot - 3$

Rewrite the expression.

$- - x = - 4 \cdot - 3$

Multiply.

Multiply $- 1$ by $- 1$ .

$1 x = - 4 \cdot - 3$

Multiply $x$ by $1$ .

$x = - 4 \cdot - 3$

Simplify the right side.

Multiply $- 4$ by $- 3$ .

$x = 12$