Question 240592
Hello, 
Okay, here we go. First "linear" means having to do with a line so this equation can be graphed to look like a straight line.
Another way to write this is 
50-x-1(3x+2)=0  Now we can remove the parenthesis by multiplying -1.
50-x-3x-2=0     Now combine like terms. 
48-4x=0        Now subtract 48 from both sides gives us:
-4x=-48        Now divide -4 into both sides gives us
x=12           There you go. Make sense for you now?
You might want to get my book it explains the basics easily. 
RJ Toftness
www.math-unlock.com