Explain or show how to simplify the algebraic expression below. Include the most simplified version of this expression as your final step.
3(x-4)-(2x+6).
You will be using the distributive property
3(x-4)-(2x+6)
Until you become more comfortable doing these, a suggestion is
to pretend there is a -1 in front of a bracket if all you see is a " - " sign
3(x-4) - 1(2x+6)
= 3x - 12 - 2x - 6 , using the distributive property
= x - 18, after simplifying by adding like terms
THANK YOU mathhelper!
To simplify the algebraic expression 3(x-4)-(2x+6), we can follow these steps:
Step 1: Distribute the 3 to both terms inside the parentheses:
3(x-4) = 3 * x - 3 * 4 = 3x - 12
Step 2: Distribute the -1 to both terms inside the parentheses:
-(2x+6) = -1 * 2x - 1 * 6 = -2x - 6
Step 3: Combine like terms by adding or subtracting coefficients of similar variables:
3x - 12 - (2x + 6) = 3x - 12 - 2x - 6
Step 4: Simplify by combining like terms:
(3x - 2x) + (-12 - 6) = x - 18
So, the simplified version of the expression 3(x-4)-(2x+6) is x - 18.