-2 ( -4x + 7 ) = -2 + 4x
(distribute)
( -2 )( -4x ) + ( -2 )( 7 ) = -2 + 4x
8x - 14 = 4x - 2
(subtract 4x from both the sides)
8x - 14 - 4x = 4x - 2 - 4x
4x - 14 = -2
(+ 14 on both sides)
4x - 14 + 14 = -2 + 14
4x = 12
(divide both sides by 4)
4x/4 = 12/4
x = 3