Let's solve the equation step by step.
Starting with the equation: \[ -3x - 9 = -21 \]
Step 1: Add 9 to both sides. \[ -3x = -21 + 9 \] Calculating the right side: \[ -3x = -12 \]
Step 2: Divide both sides by -3. \[ x = \frac{-12}{-3} \] Calculating the right side: \[ x = 4 \]
So, the solution steps can be filled in as follows:
- \(-3x = -12\)
- \(x = 4\)
Final solution:
- After adding 9 to both sides, we find \(-3x = -12\).
- After dividing both sides by -3, we find \(x = 4\).