$$ \begin{aligned} -\frac{1}{4}a-4 &= \frac{7}{4}a-3&& \text{multiply ALL terms by } \color{blue}{ 4 }. \\[1 em]-4 \cdot \frac{1}{4}a-4\cdot4 &= 4 \cdot \frac{7}{4}a-4\cdot3&& \text{cancel out the denominators} \\[1 em]-a-16 &= 7a-12&& \text{move the $ \color{blue}{ 7a } $ to the left side and $ \color{blue}{ -16 }$ to the right} \\[1 em]-a-7a &= -12+16&& \text{simplify left and right hand side} \\[1 em]-8a &= 4&& \text{ divide both sides by $ -8 $ } \\[1 em]a &= -\frac{4}{8}&& \\[1 em]a &= -\frac{1}{2}&& \\[1 em] \end{aligned} $$

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