How do you simplify #-5(x-7)#?

1 Answer
Apr 14, 2018

#-5x + 35#

Explanation:

The easiest way to solve this problem is to use the distributive property:

https://sites.google.com/a/d83.org/math-6/chapter-6/6-6-the-distributive-property

Basically you multiply the number outside the parentheses by everything inside the parentheses.

#color(blue)(-5)(color(orange)x color(green)(- 7))#

#(color(blue)(-5) xx color(orange)x)# # + (color(blue)(-5) xx color(green)(-7))#

#-5x + (+35)#

#color(white)"xxxxxxxxx"##uarr# remember that #"negative" xx "negative" = "positive"#. That's why #35# is positive.

#-5x + 35#