Solve for a 3a+28=5a-4

$3 a + 28 = 5 a - 4$

Step 1

Move all terms containing $a$ to the left side of the equation.

Subtract $5 a$ from both sides of the equation.

$3 a + 28 - 5 a = - 4$

Subtract $5 a$ from $3 a$ .

$- 2 a + 28 = - 4$

Step 2

Move all terms not containing $a$ to the right side of the equation.

Subtract $28$ from both sides of the equation.

$- 2 a = - 4 - 28$

Subtract $28$ from $- 4$ .

$- 2 a = - 32$

Step 3

Divide each term in $- 2 a = - 32$ by $- 2$ and simplify.

Divide each term in $- 2 a = - 32$ by $- 2$ .

$\frac{- 2 a}{- 2} = \frac{- 32}{- 2}$

Simplify the left side.

Cancel the common factor of $- 2$ .

Cancel the common factor.

$\frac{- 2 a}{- 2} = \frac{- 32}{- 2}$

Divide $a$ by $1$ .

$a = \frac{- 32}{- 2}$

Simplify the right side.

Divide $- 32$ by $- 2$ .

$a = 16$