Answer
a=-5
Work Step by Step
Reorder the terms:
5a + -4(-3 + a) = 7
5a + (-3 * -4 + a * -4) = 7
5a + (12 + -4a) = 7
Reorder the terms:
12 + 5a + -4a = 7
Combine like terms: 5a + -4a = 1a
12 + 1a = 7
Solving
12 + 1a = 7
Solving for variable 'a'.
Move all terms containing a to the left, all other terms to the right.
Add '-12' to each side of the equation.
12 + -12 + 1a = 7 + -12
Combine like terms: 12 + -12 = 0
0 + 1a = 7 + -12
1a = 7 + -12
Combine like terms: 7 + -12 = -5
1a = -5
Divide each side by '1'.
a = -5
Simplifying
a = -5
