(2x - 6)(x + 2) = 5(x - 1) - 12
Start to multiply out the brackets:
(2x - 6)(x + 2) = 5x - 5 - 12
2x² + 4x - 6x - 12 = 5x - 5 - 12
2x² - 2x - 12 = 5x - 17
Now you can subtract '5x' and add 17 to both sides of the equation:
2x² - 2x - 12 - 5x + 17 = 5x - 17 - 5x + 17
2x² - 2x - 12 - 5x + 17 = 0
2x² - 7x + 5 = 0
(2x - 5)(x - 1) = 0
So now the solutions to this equation are:
2x - 5 = 0 and x - 1 = 0
2x = 5 and x = 1
x = 5/2 and x = 1
So the solutions are x = 5/2 and x = 1.