How do you simplify (4x -7) -3?

1 Answer
Jacobi J.
Jun 4, 2018

#4x-10#, #color(blue)(2(2x-5))#
Factored version in blue

Explanation:

Since nothing's being multiplied here, the parenthesis are unnecessary. So we now have

#4x-7-3#

which can be solved easily by just subtracting the #3# from the #-7#. We are going to the left on the number line, which means the absolute value of the number is greater.

#4x-7-3=color(blue)(4x-10)#

Alternatively, what I have in blue, I can factor out a #2#, because both numbers have that in common. We now get

#color(blue)(2(2x-5))#

Hope this helps!

Related questions
Impact of this question
621 views around the world
You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License