text: Follow the steps\n4(8x-1) = 16\n\n1)Divide both sides by 4\n4/4 * (8x-1) = 16/4\n(8x-1) = 4\n\n2)Remove the parenthesis\n8x - 1 = 4\n\n3)Add 1 to both sides\n8x - 1 + 1 = 4 + 1\n8x = 5\n\n4)Divide both sides by 8\n8x/8 = 5/8\nx = 5/8\n\nIn the end, all you are doing is attempting to get the x alone on one side while keeping both sides of the equation balanced(i.e. doing the same thing to both sides of the equation).