When solving the inequality , what is the correct first algebraic step?

Square both sides of the inequality to get rid of the absolute value, then simplify and solve the resulting quadratic inequality

Subtract $4$ from both sides to remove the $4$ inside the absolute value so that you can directly rewrite the inequality

Multiply both sides by the sign of $x+4$ to eliminate the absolute value

Add $2$ to both sides to isolate the absolute value, yielding