You distribute the 8 to the x and the 2 which leaves you with 8x + 16 = 48 then u subtract the 16 on both sides, subtract 16 - 16 (cancel out) then 48-16 which gives you 32, from there you should have 8x=32 then you divide 8x by 8 and 32 by 8 which leave the x by itself and you 32/8 is 4 so the final answer is x = 4 !!