3/4-1/3x=-17/24. First, you need to subtract 3/4 from both sides. To subtract 3/4 from -17/24, you want to make the denominators match so multiple 3/4 x 6/6=18/24. Now you can subtract. -17/24-18/24=-35/24. You now have -1/3x=-35/24. You can divide -35/24 by -1/3 to get x=105/24.