having trouble on 1 problem on multi-step equations?

-x - 2 = 3x + 5

-4x = 7

x = -7/4

your work :

-x-2=3x+5

-3x -3x

2x-2=5 <----- here is the problem -x - 3x is not +2x it's -4x. (ie -1 - 3 = -4)

+2 +2

2x/2=7/2

x=7/2

you did the steps correctly. you just forgot to bring down the negative sign with that first x. Then did a arithmetic error on top of it x - 3x would have been -2x not 2x.

edit:

"Thank anisse for trying but, I'm asking for the explanation for that answer. I know the answer is -7/4 but i don't understand why. I thought you had to subtract -x from -3 to give you -2. not add it"

Your right you need to subtract 3x from -1x. But your going to end up deeper in the negative range. You went the wrong way and added 3x to a -x. Hope this helps

-1x-2=3x+5

Add 2 to each side.

-1x=3x+7

subtract 3x from each side

-4x=7

divide each side by -4

-7/4

-4 doesn't go into 7 perfectly without it being a fraction. I don't know where you went wrong, just put -4 in the denominator making it -7/4

-x-2=3x+5

-3x -3x

-4x-2=5

+2 +2

-4x=7

-4x/-4=7/-4

x=-7/4