Question

Grace, Chelsea, and Roan are simplifying the same polynomial expression. Which

student's work is correct and why?
Grace
Chelsea
3(2 - x) - 2(6x - 8)
= 6 - 3x – 12x + 16
3(2 - x) – 2(6x – 8)
= 6 - 3x – 12x - 16
Roan
3(2 - x) - 2(6x - 8)
= 6 - 3x + 12x - 16
= -3x - 12x + 16 + 6
= -3x – 12x – 16 + 6
= -3x + 12x – 16 + 6
= -15x + 22
= -15x – 10
= 9x - 10​

Answer 1

Hey there!

3(2 - x) - 2(6x - 8)

6-3x-12x+16

6-15x+16

-15x+22

Hope this helps :)

Answer 2

Grace is correct. The other two made mistakes while distributing the negative sign. Chelsea failed to distribute the negative sign to the second term of the second expression. Roan failed to distribute the negative sign to both terms of the second expression.