text: 2x+2(x-6)=52?   first distribute the 2 through  2(x-6) = 2x - 12  now combine like terms  2x + 2x - 12 = 52 4x - 12 = 52  add 12 to both sides  4x - 12 + 12 = 52 + 12 4x = 64  divide by 4  (4x)/4 = 64/4 x = 16  now check the answer  2(16) + 2[(16)-6] = 52 32 + 2[10] = 52 32 + 20 = 52 52 = 52