Below are the steps to solve an equation:
step 1: |x − 4| + 1 = 8
step 2: |x − 4| = 8 − 1
step 3: |x − 4| = 7

which of the following is a correct next step to solve the equation? x − 4 = −7 x + 4 = −7 −x − 4 = 7 x + 4 = 7

Since l x - 4 l means absolute value, so we need to make sure we do not include any negative signs.

x + 4 = 7 would be the next step because it does not include any negative signs. 

|x - 4| + 1 = 8
           - 1  - 1
      |x - 4| = 7
      |x - 4| = ±7
      |x - 4| = 7    or    |x - 4| = -7
        x - 4 = 7     or     x - 4 = -7
         + 4 + 4                + 4  + 4
             x = 11       or       x = -3

The answer would be equal to x - 4 = -7.