How do you simplify #\frac { 12x } { 4} - 5x + 3( x - 4)#?

Question

500 views around the world

You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License

Answer 1 · 2017-11-06T18:12:05

See a solution process below:

First, rewrite the term on the left as:

#3x - 5x + 3(x - 4)#

Now, expand the term in parenthesis by multiplying each term within the parenthesis by the term outside the parenthesis:

#3x - 5x + color(red)(3)(x - 4) =>#

#3x - 5x + (color(red)(3) xx x) - (color(red)(3) xx 4) =>#

#3x - 5x + color(red)(3)x- 12#

Next, combine like terms:

#(3 - 5 + color(red)(3))x- 12 =>#

#1x- 12 =>#

#x- 12#