5(y-4)=7(2y+1) use the distributive property: 5y-20=14y+7 then isolate one variable: 5y-20(-7)=14y+7(-7) which is: 5y-13=14y next subtract 5y from 14y which gives you: -13=9y the last step is to divide each side by 9, isolating y. your answer will be y=-1.4