text: The grouping of terms here is ambiguous. I added parentheses to show the grouping I assumed.\n\n(a) (1/3)X + 1 = -7\n(1/3)X = -8\nX = -3 x 8 = -24\nX = -24\n\n(b) [(X-3)/3] - 4 = X - 2 \n(X-3)/3 = X + 2\nX-3 = 3X + 6\n2X = -9\nX = -9/2 = -4.5\nX = -4.5