Simplify: 5-3[2(3x-4)+3]
20-6x
Work from the inside out.
5 - 3(6x - 8 + 3) = 5 - 3(6x -5) = 5 - 18x + 15 =
20 -18x
To simplify the given expression: 5 - 3[2(3x - 4) + 3], follow the order of operations, which is also known as PEMDAS (Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication and Division, and Addition and Subtraction).
1. Begin by evaluating the expression within the innermost parentheses: 2(3x - 4).
Multiply 2 by each term inside the parentheses:
2 * 3x = 6x
2 * -4 = -8
The expression is now: 5 - 3[6x - 8 + 3]
2. Continue to simplify the expression inside the square brackets.
Combine the like terms -8 and 3:
6x - 8 + 3 = 6x - 5
The expression is now: 5 - 3(6x - 5)
3. Distribute the 3 to every term inside the parentheses:
-3 * 6x = -18x
-3 * -5 = 15
The expression becomes: 5 - 18x + 15
4. Combine like terms: 5 and 15 are constants, so they can be combined.
5 + 15 = 20
The final simplified expression is: 20 - 18x