3(x + 8) = 2x - 9
Distributive property.
3x + 24 = 2x - 9
Subtract 24 from both sides.
3x = 2x - 33
Subtract 2x from both sides.
x = -33 (this is your answer)
We can plug this value into the original equation to verify if it's correct.
3(x + 8) = 2x - 9
3(-33 + 8) = 2 * -33 - 9
-75 = -75 √ this is correct