whats the answer to -(3k -12)

Question

You have to do distributive property

 

Answer 1

Notice that another way to think of negating a number or expression (negating is a fancy way of saying putting a negative sign in front of it) is instead to think of multiplying the number or expression by -1.

 

E.g.  -4  =  (-1) * 4

E.g.  -(x + y)  =  (-1)(x + y)  =  (-1)x + (-1)y  =  -x + -y  =  -x - y

 

-(3k - 12)  = -(3k + -12)  =  (-1)(3k + -12)  =  (-1)3k + (-1)(-12)  =  -3k + 12

 

Although to save time, this can be instead thought of as distributing the negative/minus sign.

 

-(3k - 12)  =  -(3k) - -12  =  -3k + 12