Solve for y: 8y - 4 - 7y - 7 = 4.

1. Simplify the left side first by combining like terms. 2. Combine the variable terms: 8y - 7y = y. 3. Combine the constants: -4 - 7 = -11, so the equation becomes y - 11 = 4. 4. Add 11 to both sides: y = 15. 5. Check: 8(15) - 4 - 7(15) - 7 = 120 - 4 - 105 - 7 = 4, so y = 15 works, while y = -7 comes from combining -4 - 7 as +11. _Source: OpenStax Elementary Algebra (CC BY 4.0), Ch 2 "Solving Linear Equations and Inequalities", section 2.1 Solve Equations Using the Subtraction and Addition Properties of Equality_