.125x - 3(x - 7) = 5.125x - 3 ???

.125x - 3(x - 7) = 5.125x - 3

There are always lots of ways to do these.

I recognise 0.125 as beint 1/8 so the first thing I would do is multiply everything by 8

$$\\8[.125x - 3(x - 7)] =8[ 5.125x - 3]\\
x-24(x-7) = 41x-24\\$$

 

Now it is really important to remember the -sign belongs to the 24

-24(x-7) = -24x - - 168 = -24x+128

so

$$\\x-24(x-7) = 41x-24\\
x-24x+168=41x-24\\
-23x+168=41x-24$$

 

Can you finish it now?