1. **State the problem:** Solve the equation $$2(2u + 7) = 42$$ for the variable $u$. 2. **Use the distributive property:** Multiply 2 by each term inside the parentheses: $$2 \times 2u + 2 \times 7 = 42$$ which simplifies to $$4u + 14 = 42$$ 3. **Isolate the variable term:** Subtract 14 from both sides to get $$4u = 42 - 14$$ $$4u = 28$$ 4. **Solve for $u$:** Divide both sides by 4: $$u = \frac{28}{4}$$ $$u = 7$$ 5. **Final answer:** The solution to the equation is $$u = 7$$ This means when $u$ is 7, the original equation holds true.