Question

5(3x-2)-(3x+5)
How would I expand and simplify this?

Answer 1

To expand and simplify 5(3x-2)-(3x+5), apply the distributive property, combine like terms, and simplify to get the final expression 12x - 5. Check the answer to ensure it is reasonable.

Step-by-step explanation:

To expand and simplify the expression 5(3x-2)-(3x+5), we first apply the distributive property to multiply the 5 by each term inside the first set of parentheses, and then we distribute the negative sign to each term inside the second set of parentheses:

• 5 * 3x = 15x
• 5 * (-2) = -10
• -(3x) becomes -3x
• -(-5) becomes +5

Now, we combine the terms:

• 15x - 10 - 3x + 5

Next, we combine like terms by adding the x-terms and the constant terms separately:

• 15x - 3x = 12x
• -10 + 5 = -5

Finally, we write the simplified expression, which is:

• 12x - 5

Remember to eliminate terms wherever possible to simplify the algebra and to check the answer to ensure it is reasonable.