What is the simplification of 12x-[5+(3-4x)]?

Question

find the simplification

Answer 1

12x-[5+(3-4x)]

12x-[5+3-4x]

12x-[8-4x]

12x-8+4x

16x-8 or 8(2x-1)

 

Answer 2

Hi Roseland;

2x-[5+(3-4x)]

Neither the brackets nor parenthesis seem to be purposeful, so we can eliminate those...

2x-5+3-4x

Then, we can combine like terms...

 

2x and -4x are like terms.  While it is true that we are subtracting 4x, it is also true that subtraction is addition of a negative number.

 

-5 and 3 are also like terms.

 

-2x-2

 

We can simplify even more...

-2(x+1)

or

2(-x-1)

In these equations, the parenthesis are useful in that they tell us that the coefficient of -2 or 2 must be multiplied by unified parenthetical numbers.

 

I hope this helps.  If not, please let me know.