-5 - 3^2 - 3(x - 2) = 3[(x - 2)3 - 4]

Where are you stuck?. This is very basic algebra.

On the right, work from the inside of the parentheses out. Distribute.

Isolate x on one side of the equation.
 
There is one goofy thing in there. Normally, one would not write "(x-2)3". Think of it as "3(x-2)" and you should be happier. If you carefully perform multiplication before addition or subtraction, it makes no difference in which way it is written.
 
Your first step is to get rid of the parentheses and exponents

-5-9-3x+6 = 3[3x-6-4] use the distributive property
continue by removing the brackets
-5-9-3x+6 = 9x-18-12 use distributive property again
then combine like terms to simplify
-8-3x = 9x-30 then we work to get the variable on one side of equation

add 3x to both sides to get
-8 =12x-30
then add 30 to both sides to get
22 = 12x
divide both sides by 12
22/12 then simplify to 11/6

hope that helps
 
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