Emeril solved this equation using the steps shown below: 4b + 2b – 3 = –21 1. combine like terms: 6b − 3 = −21 2. subtraction property of equality: 6b = −24 3. subtraction property of equality: b = −4 analyze the steps emeril used to solve for the variable to determine if he made an error. in which step did emeril make an error? step 1: he didn’t combine like terms correctly. step 2: he should have added 3 to, rather than subtracting 3 from, both sides. step 3: he should have gotten a positive answer when dividing -24 by 6.