Question

How do you simplify `-3( - c + 2) - ( 2c - 9)`?

Answer 1

`c+3` is the final simplified solution.

Explanation:

Your first step when simplifying is to expand everything as much as possible. To begin, you should distribute the values in front of the parenthesis to the values inside the parenthesis.

`-3(-c+2) - (2c-9) -> 3c -6 -2c + 9`

Then, you can simplify completely by adding like terms (terms with the same variable base and exponent). In this case, `3c` and `-2c` can be added, as they share the common variable base of `c^1`. `-6` and `9` can also be added.

I have added parenthesis to the following to demonstrate how to group the items by like terms so that you can add them.

`3c -6 -2c + 9 -> (3c - 2c) + (-6 + 9)`
`(c) + (3)`

You are left with `c + 3`, which is your final simplified solution. Remember to write your solution in standard form, writing from left to right with the highest variable exponent on the left!