Example

Solve for $v$: $\quad \displaystyle -6v-21 = 5(v-2)$

Solution

First we remove parentheses by using the distributive property:

There are no like terms to combine; so next, let's get the $v$'s all on one side by adding $6v$ to both sides:

Now we add $10$ to both sides:

Finally, divide both sides by $11$ to get

or

The equation has the single solution $v=-1$.