-5 = x - 3�ã(x+4)

3�ã(x+4) = x+5
square both sides
9(x+4) = x^2 + 10x + 25
x^2 + x - 11 = 0
solving this by the quadratic formula gave me
x = (-1 �}�ã45)/2 or appr. 2.854 or -3.854

how did u go from line one to line 2

-5 = x - 3√(x+4)

I rearranged the equation by simple elementary steps of solving equations

I merely added 5 and 3√(x+4) to both sides of the equation and simplified.

3√(x+4) = x+5

I am puzzled. If you had difficulty following those simple steps, how did you understand the rest of the solution?