3a - 8 (2a + 5b) - (a - 7b)
the next step would be
3a - 16a - 40b -a +7b
To complete the problem, combine all the a terms and all the b terms separately.
thanks
To simplify the expression 3a - 8(2a + 5b) - (a - 7b), we need to simplify each term and combine like terms.
Let's break it down step by step:
1. Distribute -8 to the terms inside the parentheses:
3a - 8 * 2a - 8 * 5b - (a - 7b)
Simplify the values inside the parentheses:
3a - 16a - 40b - (a - 7b)
2. Remove the parentheses using the distributive property:
3a - 16a - 40b - a + 7b
3. Combine like terms:
(3a - 16a - a) + (-40b + 7b)
Simplify the terms with the same variables:
(-13a) + (-33b)
So, the simplified expression is -13a - 33b.