The Purplemath Forums

I can't seem to finish this problem. I'm fine until the combining like terms on each side. Is there a set of rules like if one of the terms is on the opposite side of the = then you subtract?? There doesn't seem to be a pattern to follow to get the right answer: -7(y+1) =4y-6+2(2y+4) -7y-7+4y-6+4y+8...