Steps to balance combustion equations for hydrocarbons
1. Write out the unbalanced symbol equation
2. Count up the number of carbons in the alkane on the left hand side, put it in front of CO2 or CO
3. Count up the number of hydrogens in the alkane on the left hand side, divide by 2 and put in front of H2O
4. Count up the total number of oxygens on the right hand side, divide it by 2 and put in front of O2