Answer:
Step-by-step explanation:
[tex]31 - 8a = 5(-4 - 5a)[/tex]
First, on the right-hand side of the equation, let's distribute the [tex]5[/tex] to each term in the parenthesis:
[tex]31 - 8a = -20 - 25a[/tex]
Now, let's move all the terms with an [tex]a[/tex] to the left-hand side, and everything else to the right-hand side of the equation:
[tex]-8a + 25a = -20 - 31[/tex]
Let's combine like terms:
[tex]17a = -51[/tex]
Finally, let's divide each side by [tex]17[/tex] to get [tex]a[/tex] by itself on the left-hand side of the equation:
[tex]a = -3[/tex]
