$$8-\frac{1}{3}x = 16$$

$$ \begin{aligned} 8-\frac{1}{3}x &= 16&& \text{multiply ALL terms by } \color{blue}{ 3 }. \\[1 em]3\cdot8-3 \cdot \frac{1}{3}x &= 3\cdot16&& \text{cancel out the denominators} \\[1 em]24-x &= 48&& \text{ move 24 to the right } \\[1 em]-x &= 48-24&& \\[1 em]-x &= 24&& \text{switch signs on both sides} \\[1 em]x &= -24&& \\[1 em] \end{aligned} $$

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