To simplify the expression \( 4 + 8(3x - 2) - 7x \), we will first apply the distributive property and then combine like terms.
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Distribute the \( 8 \) into the expression \( 8(3x - 2) \):
\[ 8(3x - 2) = 8 \cdot 3x - 8 \cdot 2 = 24x - 16 \]
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Substitute back into the original expression:
\[ 4 + (24x - 16) - 7x \]
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Combine the constants and the terms with \( x \):
\[ 4 - 16 = -12 \]
\[ 24x - 7x = 17x \]
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Putting it all together:
The simplified expression is:
\[ 17x - 12 \]
Therefore, the expression \( 4 + 8(3x - 2) - 7x \) simplifies to \( \boxed{17x - 12} \).