$$ \begin{aligned} 9x+2 &= 8x-7&& \text{move the $ \color{blue}{ 8x } $ to the left side and $ \color{blue}{ 2 }$ to the right} \\[1 em]9x-8x &= -7-2&& \text{simplify left and right hand side} \\[1 em]x &= -9&& \\[1 em]x &= -9&& \\[1 em] \end{aligned} $$