How to solve equation with variable on both sides

You combine like terms. You could subtract the positive term from both sides and divide to get the variable alone

You combine the like terms by canceling out one side of the equation for the number with no variable, and the one with the variable, but they must be on different sides.

Then, you get the variable by itself, by dividing (in this equation, sometimes you will multiply, if there is a fraction)

Example:

4x - 1 = 2x + 7
     + 1         + 1

4x = 2x + 8
- 2x  - 2x

2x = 8

2x /2 = 8 /2

x = 4