4 times the quantity x plus 8 I need help

Fractions can be added and subtracted only if they're fractions. a. like b. proper c. improper d. unlike

Nick has box brads. he uses 4 brads for the first project. nick let’s b represent the original number of brads and finds that for the second project, the number of brads he uses is 8 more than half the difference of b and 4. write an expression to represent the number of brads he uses for the second project.

How is working backward similar to solving an equation?