$$ \begin{aligned} a-7 &= -4+2a&& \text{move the $ \color{blue}{ 2a } $ to the left side and $ \color{blue}{ -7 }$ to the right} \\[1 em]a-2a &= -4+7&& \text{simplify left and right hand side} \\[1 em]-a &= 3&& \text{switch signs on both sides} \\[1 em]a &= -3&& \\[1 em] \end{aligned} $$