1. **State the problem:** Simplify the expression $7x + 3 - 4(2x - 5)$. 2. **Use the distributive property:** Multiply $-4$ by each term inside the parentheses: $$-4 \times 2x = -8x$$ $$-4 \times (-5) = +20$$ So, the expression becomes: $$7x + 3 - 8x + 20$$ 3. **Combine like terms:** Combine the $x$ terms and the constant terms separately: $$7x - 8x = -x$$ $$3 + 20 = 23$$ 4. **Write the simplified expression:** $$-x + 23$$ This is the simplified form of the original expression.