$$ \begin{aligned} -4+w+17-\frac{2}{3}w &= 16&& \text{multiply ALL terms by } \color{blue}{ 3 }. \\[1 em]-3\cdot4+3w+3\cdot17-3 \cdot \frac{2}{3}w &= 3\cdot16&& \text{cancel out the denominators} \\[1 em]-12+3w+51-2w &= 48&& \text{simplify left side} \\[1 em]w+39 &= 48&& \text{ move 39 to the right } \\[1 em]w &= 48-39&& \\[1 em]w &= 9&& \\[1 em]w &= 9&& \\[1 em] \end{aligned} $$

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