Select the correct answer. Which statement about the growth of the Islamic empire is true?

Islam and the empire began to spread along trade routes throughout the Fertile Crescent, North Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia. The empire expanded despite great distances, deserts, and mountains. When non-Muslim peoples were conquered, they could continue to practice their own religion or convert to Islam. The answer is in the my answer just look for it. And your welcome.

simplify brackets

8 - 2a - 7 = a + 40

simplify 8 - 2a - 7 to -2a + 1

-2a + 1 = a + 40

add 2a to both sides

1 = a + 40 + 2a

simplify a + 40 + 2a to 3a + 40

1 = 3a + 40

subtract 40 from both sides

1 - 40 = 3a

simplify 1 - 40 o -39

-39 = 3a

divide both sides by 3

-39/3 = a

simplify 39/3 to 13

-13 = a

switch sides

a = -13