Step 1 :Expanding the product on the left, we have $(x-8)(x-2) = -9$, so $x^2 - 10x + 16 = -9$.
Step 2 :So, $x^2 - 10x + 16 + 9 = 0$. Simplifying the left side gives $x^2 - 10x + 25 = 0$.
Step 3 :This can be factored as $(x - 5)(x - 5) = 0$.
Step 4 :The only solution for $x$ is \(\boxed{5}\).