To solve the equation \(-2x - 5 = -21\), here are the best two steps:
Step 1: Add 5 to both sides of the equation.
\(-2x - 5 + 5 = -21 + 5\)
This simplifies to:
\(-2x = -16\)
Step 2: Divide both sides by -2.
\(\frac{-2x}{-2} = \frac{-16}{-2}\)
This simplifies to:
\(x = 8\)
Solution: \(x = 8\)