-4m-7+m-2 = 6 On the left side, combine the like terms Combine -4m and +m as -3m Combine like terms -7 and -2 as -9 So the left side is -3m-9 -3m-9 = 6 We only want letter terms on the left, so we get the -9 off the left side by adding the opposite +9 to both sides: -3m-9 = 6 +9 +9 ---------- -3m = 15 Next we divide both sides by the coefficient of m, which is -3:= Cancel the -3's on the left and get just m. Divide 15 by -3 on the right and get -5 m = -5 Edwin