Look at this equation. 4(x-2)=40-2x solve it in two different ways.

The first and second way always requires you to do parentheses first because of PEMDAS. Parentheses, exponents, multiplication and division (if division comes before multiplication in a problem, you would do division first), then addition and subtraction (same rule with division and multiplication).

first way:
4(x-2)=40-2x
4x-8=40-2x
6x-8=40
6x=48
x=8

second way:
4(x-2)=40-2x
4x-8=40-2x
-8=40-6x
-48=-6x
8=x or x=8

Add up all the sides