Final answer:
The student's question pertains to solving a linear equation by distributing, combining like terms, and isolating the variable, which is a typical high school algebra problem.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question given by the student involves simplifying and solving a linear equation with variables and constants. This equation does not form a quadratic equation as the powers of the variable (x or a) do not exceed 1. To find the value of the variable x, we need to distribute the values inside the parentheses, combine like terms, and isolate x on one side of the equation.
The expression given in the question is a common type of problem in high school mathematics, specifically in the study of algebra. When dealing with linear equations of this nature, students are expected to understand how to distribute, combine like terms, and solve for the unknown variable.