but tonight i solved these equations in one try with no help:
7(x + 4) = -3x - 1 + 3(2x - 3)
6(x - 1) + 4 = 2(6x - 9) + 6x
2(x - 8) = 4x - 4 - 3(4x - 2)
3(x-8) - 4 = 6(-6x - 8) + 5x
i know most 8th graders can do this, but they were hard for me, so back off.