Question

Question #982eb

Answer 1

SIMPLIFY:
`4a`

EXPAND:
`2x + 8`

STRETCH:
I'm assuming that this means to distribute and combine like terms, so it's `7x + 33`.

Explanation:

SIMPLIFY:

For the first part, these are all like terms. A like term is something that can be added to something else, since they have the same variables.

You can add the first four `4` `a`'s together to get `4a`. If you're not good with variables, imagine that `a` is an apple and you have four apples. The next part is subtracting an `a`, so you take away an `a` (or an apple) and get `3a`.

The next part is adding an `a` (or an apple) and you get `4a` again, thus your final answer is `4a`.

EXPAND:

You're distributing in this one. Distribution is when you have something (a number or variable) outside of the parenthesis and you multiply it to the terms inside.

You multiply `2` with `x` and get `2x`. You then multiply `2` and `+4` and get `+8`. Thus, `2x + 8`.

STRETCH:

Again, you're distributing and combining like terms. It's a combination of the first part and second part.

Multiply the `3` to the `x` and to the `+7` and you get `3x + 21`. Multiply the `4` to the `x` and the `+3` and you get `4x + 12`.

You can only combine `3x` and `4x` and `12` and `21`. You cannot combine `4x` and `21` because `21` does not have a variable. So, add `3x` and `4x` together to get `7x` and then add `21` and `12` together to get `33`. Thus, `7x + 33`.

Sorry if I dumbed this down, I wanted to make sure you understood every part since you said you weren't good with math. Hope this helped and good luck!