Answer is x = 7
Step by step
4x -2(x - 2) = -9 +5x -8
Distribute
4x -2x +4 = -9 +5x -8
Combine
2x + 4 = 5x -17
Subtract 5x from both sides to isolate variable
2x -5x +4 = 5x -5x -17
Combine
-3x +4 = -17
Subtract 4 from both sides to combine constants
-3x +4 -4 = -17 -4
Combine
-3x = -21
Divide both sides by -3 to solve
-3/-3 x = -21/-3
x = 7