$$ \begin{aligned} 2x &= \frac{1}{2}(-8x-36)&& \text{simplify right side} \\[1 em]2x &= \frac{-8x-36}{2}&& \text{multiply ALL terms by } \color{blue}{ 2 }. \\[1 em]2\cdot2x &= 2 \cdot \frac{-8x-36}{2}&& \text{cancel out the denominators} \\[1 em]4x &= -8x-36&& \text{move the $ \color{blue}{ -8x } $ to the left side} \\[1 em]4x+8x &= -36&& \text{simplify left side} \\[1 em]12x &= -36&& \text{ divide both sides by $ 12 $ } \\[1 em]x &= -\frac{36}{12}&& \\[1 em]x &= -3&& \\[1 em] \end{aligned} $$

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