Question

How do you simplify `3(4a+9)-10(a-6)`?

Answer 1

`2a + 87`

Explanation:

`3(4a+9) - 10(a-6)`

To simplify this, use the distributive property:

Following this image, we know that:
`color(blue)(3(4a+9) = (3 * 4a) + (3 * 9) = 12a + 27)`
and
`color(blue)(-10(a-6) = (-10 * a) + (-10 * -6) = -10a + 60)`

Combine the two expressions together:
`12a + 27 - 10a + 60`

Color-code like terms:
`color(red)(12a) quadcolor(green)(+quad27) quadcolor(red)(-quad10a) quadcolor(green)(+quad60)`

Combine like terms:
`2a + 87`

Hope this helps!

Answer 2

`2a+87`

Explanation:

Let's distribute the `3` and the `-10` to their respective terms. We now have

`12a+27-10a+60`

We can combine our `a` terms to get `2a` and our constants to get `87`. We get

`2a+87`

Hope this helps!