NathanJohnson

A negative multiplied by a negative results in a positive number, therefore -2^2 (or -2 * -2) is 4. 

The calculator needs it to be wrapped in parantheses so it knows to square the negative number. Without parantheses, it calculates it like this:

-1*2^2

-1*4

-4

$${\mathtt{5}}{\mathtt{\,\small\textbf+\,}}{\frac{{\mathtt{x}}}{{\mathtt{2}}}} = {\mathtt{10}}$$

$$\left({\mathtt{5}}{\mathtt{\,\small\textbf+\,}}{\frac{{\mathtt{x}}}{{\mathtt{2}}}}\right){\mathtt{\,-\,}}{\mathtt{5}} = \left({\mathtt{10}}\right){\mathtt{\,-\,}}{\mathtt{5}}$$

$${\frac{{\mathtt{x}}}{{\mathtt{2}}}} = {\mathtt{5}}$$

$${\mathtt{2}}{\mathtt{\,\times\,}}\left({\frac{{\mathtt{x}}}{{\mathtt{2}}}}\right) = \left({\mathtt{5}}\right){\mathtt{\,\times\,}}{\mathtt{2}}$$

$${\mathtt{x}} = {\mathtt{10}}$$

All you have to do is get the variable (p) by itself.

First, multiply by 8 on each side (multiplication is the opposite of division).

$${\mathtt{8}}{\mathtt{\,\times\,}}{\mathtt{48}} = {\frac{{\mathtt{\,-\,}}{\mathtt{p}}}{{\mathtt{8}}}}{\mathtt{\,\times\,}}{\mathtt{8}}$$

Multiplying by 8 cancels out the division by 8.

That gives you this:

$${\mathtt{\,-\,}}{\mathtt{p}} = {\mathtt{384}}$$

Now, to get rid of the negative sign on the variable side, divide by -1 on each side. This gives you the final answer:

$${\mathtt{p}} = -{\mathtt{384}}$$

Hope that helps!