evaluate: 7x + [x - (5 - x)]

7x - 5

Thanks Ms. Sue!

You're welcome, Sally.

To evaluate the expression 7x + [x - (5 - x)], we follow the order of operations, which is also known as PEMDAS (Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication and Division, and Addition and Subtraction). Let's break it down step by step:

1. Start with the innermost set of parentheses: 5 - x. The expression inside the parentheses is subtracting x from 5.

2. Simplify 5 - x to get 5 - x = 5 - x.

3. Move to the next set of parentheses: [x - (5 - x)]. Inside the brackets are a set of parentheses that we just simplified.

4. Distribute the negative sign to the terms inside the parentheses: - (5 - x) becomes -5 + x.

5. Replace the parentheses [x - (5 - x)] with its simplified form, which is x - (5 - x) = x - 5 + x.

6. Now, we have the expression 7x + (x - 5 + x).

7. Combine like terms, which means adding or subtracting variables with the same exponent:
7x + (x - 5 + x) = 7x + 2x - 5.
Combine the x terms: 7x + 2x = 9x.

8. Finally, we have 9x - 5 as the simplified expression.

Therefore, the evaluation of 7x + [x - (5 - x)] is 9x - 5.

Note: It's important to be careful with signs and follow the order of operations when simplifying expressions to ensure accurate results.