To solve the equation \( 9.8(x - 2.14) = 53.9 \), the first step would typically be to simplify the equation by eliminating the coefficient in front of the parentheses.
The most appropriate first step is:
Divide both sides by 9.8.
This allows you to isolate the term with \( x \) on the left side. Once that step is completed, you can then work on the remaining terms to solve for \( x \).