What is the first step in solving this equation?
3(2x + 6) – 4x = 2(5x – 2) + 6
a. use the subtraction property of equality to subtract 6 from both sides.
b. use the addition property of equality to add 4x to both sides.
c. combine the like terms on each side of the equation.
d. use the distributive property on each side of the equation.

The first step is to distribute on each side of the equation

Step-by-step explanation:

The first step is to distribute on each side of the equation

3(2x + 6) – 4x = 2(5x – 2) + 6  

6x +18 -4x = 10x -4 +6

Then we would combine like terms

2x +18 = 10x +2

Use the subtraction property of equality to subtract 2x from both sides

2x -2x +18 = 10x -2x +2

18 = 8x +2

Use the subtraction property of equality to subtract 2 from both sides.

18-2 = 8x+2-2

16 = 8x

Then use the division property of equality to divide each side by 8

16/8 =8x/8

2=x