let a = 2, b = -5, c = 7, and d = -4

Question ~ Evaluate b – a(cd + b)

This was my answer ~~
Evaluate b – a(cd + b)

(cd+b)=-33

(7)(-4)+(-5)

(7)(-4)=-28

(-28)+(-5)=-33

(-5)-(2)((-33))

(2)((-33))=-6

(-5)-(-6)=1

Can someone help/show me how to answer this question? and tell me what I did wrong?

(cd+b) = 7*(-4) + (-5) = -28 - 5-33

a(cd+b) = -2 * (-33) = -66

Negative times negative = positive

b - (-66) = -5 + 66 = 61

Thank you so much for your help!!

You are welcome.

To evaluate the expression b – a(cd + b), you need to substitute the given values of a, b, c, and d into the equation and perform the calculations in the correct order. Let's break it down step by step:

Step 1: Substitute the values of a, b, c, and d into the expression:
b – a(cd + b)
= -5 - 2(cd + (-5))

Step 2: Simplify the expression inside the parentheses:
cd + (-5)
= cd - 5

Step 3: Substitute the values of c and d:
= 2(cd - 5)

Step 4: Multiply c and d together:
= 2(2(-4) - 5)
= 2(-8 - 5)
= 2(-13)
= -26

Step 5: Substitute the value of cd back into the expression:
= -5 - 2(-26)

Step 6: Simplify the expression:
= -5 + 52
= 47

Therefore, the correct answer is 47.

Looking at your steps, your result for (cd + b) is correct, which is -33. However, you made a mistake in the next step when you multiplied 2((-33)), which should be -66 instead of -6. Then, you calculated (-5) - (-66) as -5 + 6, which equals 1, giving you an incorrect answer.

By following the correct order of operations and substituting the values correctly, you will arrive at the correct answer of 47.