How do you do this?

-7x - 3x + 2 = - 8x - 8

You need to combine like-terms first. so combine - 7x with - 3x, and you'll get - 10x + 2=-8x-8. then to simplify this, add the 8 over to the 2. you'll have - 10x+10=-8x. then add 10x to the - 8x. you should get 10=2x. then just divide the 10 by 2 to get x by itself. so you answer should be x=5.

-7x - 3x + 2 = - 8x - 8

combine like terms

-10x + 2 = - 8x - 8

add 10x to each side

-10x + 10x + 2 = - 8x + 10x - 8

2 = 2x-8

add 8 to each side

2+8 = 2x-8+8

10 = 2x

divide each side by 2

10/2 = 2x/2

5 = x