(4t - 2) + (3t + 8) = -15 Put 1's before each parentheses 1(4t - 2) + 1(3t + 8) = -15 Use the distributive law to remove the parentheses: 4t - 2 + 3t + 8 = -15 7t + 6 = -15 7t = -15 - 6 7t = -21 t = -3 Edwin