1/5 (x - 8) = x - 16...distribute thru the parenthesis
1/5x - 8/5 = x - 16 ...multiply everything by common denominator of 5
x - 8 = 5x - 80 ...subtract 5x from both sides
x - 5x - 8 = - 80 ...add 8 to both sides
x - 5x = -80 + 8 ...combine like terms
-4x = - 72 ...divide both sides by -4
x = -72/-4
x = 18
