1. **State the problem:** Solve the equation $(m - 2) - 5 = 8 - 2(m - 4)$. 2. **Write the equation:** $$ (m - 2) - 5 = 8 - 2(m - 4) $$ 3. **Simplify both sides:** Left side: $m - 2 - 5 = m - 7$ Right side: $8 - 2(m - 4) = 8 - 2m + 8 = 16 - 2m$ So the equation becomes: $$ m - 7 = 16 - 2m $$ 4. **Add $2m$ to both sides to get all $m$ terms on one side:** $$ m - 7 + 2m = 16 - 2m + 2m $$ $$ 3m - 7 = 16 $$ 5. **Add 7 to both sides to isolate the term with $m$:** $$ 3m - 7 + 7 = 16 + 7 $$ $$ 3m = 23 $$ 6. **Divide both sides by 3 to solve for $m$:** $$ m = \frac{23}{3} $$ 7. **Final answer:** $$ m = \frac{23}{3} $$ This means $m$ is approximately $7.67$ when expressed as a decimal.