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Simplify the expression by distributing and combining like-terms: -5 -2(x+3) + 7x. How do I do that?

Simplify the expression by distributing and combining like-terms: -5 -2(x+3) + 7x. How do I do that?

Posted 224 day ago

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Doctor Bob

Best Answer

You may have learned about the ORDER OF OPERATIONS which can be remembered by the pneumonic Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally (PEMDAS). In Algebra PEMDAS means that you operate in the following order Parentheses, Exponents, Multiply-Divide, Add-Subtract.
In your problem there is Parentheses to get rid of first, and so you get:
-5-2x-6+7x (notice the distributive property of (-2) times BOTH the x and the 3)
NO EXPONENTS TO WORRY ABOUT.
NO MULTIPLY OR DIVIDE TO WORRY ABOUT
JUST ADD AND SUBTRACT
COMBINE LIKE TERMS
-11 +5X OR 5X-11
good luck RevDrBob@aol.com


Posted 224 day ago

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Answers (5)

YummyCookies 		Doctor Bob has it all!

Posted 223 day ago

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MFB13 		Always work inside the paraenthesis first then work outwards. The first step is to multiply the -2 by both terms inside the paranthesis as follows:

-2 (X + 3) = -2X - 6

The above is the opposite of "factoring" of terms.

The next step is to add like terms such as the X values which is -2X + 7X = 5X then add the constants which is -5 + (-6) = -5 - 6 = -11

We finally add these terms together which is: 5X - 11
which is the simplified expression.

Posted 223 day ago

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marycurry 		Always eliminate paranteses first by doing distributive property, giving you: -5-2x-6+7x, then just combine like terms leading to -11 + 5x..

Posted 224 day ago

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matherapist 		Dr Bob has given you the basics. I prefer to remember PEDMAS as Purple Elephants May Destroy Antique Stores. Problems invoving parentheses make use of the distributive law, that is
a(b+c) = ab + ac . The converse is also true ab+ac =a(b+c)

So your problem becomes -5 -2x-6 +7x Now combine like terms (constants and x terms with their coeficients). (-5-6)+(-2x+7x) = -11+5x or 5x-11

Posted 224 day ago

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Doctor Bob 		You may have learned about the ORDER OF OPERATIONS which can be remembered by the pneumonic Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally (PEMDAS). In Algebra PEMDAS means that you operate in the following order Parentheses, Exponents, Multiply-Divide, Add-Subtract.
In your problem there is Parentheses to get rid of first, and so you get:
-5-2x-6+7x (notice the distributive property of (-2) times BOTH the x and the 3)
NO EXPONENTS TO WORRY ABOUT.
NO MULTIPLY OR DIVIDE TO WORRY ABOUT
JUST ADD AND SUBTRACT
COMBINE LIKE TERMS
-11 +5X OR 5X-11
good luck RevDrBob@aol.com


Posted 224 day ago

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