First, group and combine the like terms on the left side of the equation:
#-8x - 6x + 9 - 6 = 5#
#(-8 - 6)x + (9 - 6) = 5#
#-14x + 3 = 5#
Next, subtract #color(red)(3)# from each side of the equation to isolate the #x# term while keeping the equation balanced:
#-14x + 3 - color(red)(3) = 5 - color(red)(3)#
#-14x + 0 = 2#
#-14x = 2#
Now, divide each side of the equation by #color(red)(-14)# to solve for #x# while keeping the equation balanced:
#(-14x)/color(red)(-14) = 2/color(red)(-14)#
#(color(red)(cancel(color(black)(-14)))x)/cancel(color(red)(-14)) = 2/color(red)(2 xx -7)#
#x = color(red)(cancel(color(black)(2)))/color(red)(color(black)(cancel(color(red)(2)))xx -7)#
#x = -1/7#
