First we have to simplify both sides of the equation.
8a + − 4a + − 6a + − 8 = 2a
(8a + − 4a + − 6a) + (−8) = 2a < We combine the like terms here.
−2a + − 8 = 2a−2a − 8 = 2a
Now we must subtract 2a from both sides!
−2a − 8 − 2a = 2a − 2a−4a − 8 = 0
Then we add 8 to both sides.
−4a − 8 + 8 = 0 + 8−4a = 8
Finally we divide both sides by -4.
a = -2.