Simplify: #(3e)+(3e-20)#?

1 Answer
Sep 13, 2017

Result #=6e-20#

Explanation:

Here we have an expression #(3e)+(3e-20)#

Notice:
(i) The brackets on the first term are unnecessary

(ii) The brackets on the second are telling you to distribute the operator over the two elements. However, since this operator is #+#, these brackets are also unnecessary.

#:.# Expression #= 3e+3e-20 = 6e-20#

NB: If the operator before the second term had been #-# the brackets would have been necessary as follows:

#3e -(3e-20) = 3e-3e +20 =20#

Notice that distributing #-# over #(3e-20) -> -3e +20#