Here's one exactly like it with the numbers changed. Follow it step by step with the numbers in your equation y = 4[x-(5-x)]-7(x+1) Replace y by 0 0 = 4[x-(5-x)]-7(x+1) Remove the parentheses in -(5-x) as -5+x and replace -(5-x) by -5+x 0 = 4[x-5+x]-7(x+1) Replace x-5+x by 2x-5 0 = 4[2x-5]-7(x+1) Use the distributive principle to replace 4[2x-5] by 8x-20 0 = 8x-20-7(x+1) Use the distributive principle to replace -7(x+1) by -7x-7 0 = 8x-20-7x-7 Combine like terms and replace the right side by x-29 0 = x-27 Add 27 to both sides 27 = x Now do yours by following the same exact steps. Edwin