Let's solve the equation step by step:

Given equation:

$2(x - 9) = -2$

Step 1: Distribute the 2 on the left side

$2x - 18 = -2$

Step 2: Add 18 to both sides to isolate the term with $x$

$2x = -2 + 18$ $2x = 16$

Step 3: Divide both sides by 2 to solve for $x$

$x = \frac{16}{2}$ $x = 8$

So, the solution is $x = 8$.

Would you like more details or have any questions?

Here are five related questions to deepen your understanding:

1. What happens if we change the constant on the right-hand side to a different number?
2. How do we solve the equation if there is a negative coefficient in front of $x$?
3. How do you solve the equation if there is a fraction involved in the distribution?
4. What are some common mistakes when distributing numbers in algebraic equations?
5. How do you check if your solution to an equation is correct?

Tip: Always perform inverse operations (like adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing) to isolate the variable when solving equations.