How do you simplify #3(2b-a)-(2a-b)#?

1 Answer
Oct 23, 2016

#color(darkblue)(7b-5a)#

Explanation:

Simplify by distributing.

First take #3# and multiply it across the first binomial, which is #2b-a#.

#color(orange)3(color(green)(2b)-color(red)a) = (color(orange)3)(color(green)(2b)) - (color(orange)3)(color(red)a)#

Now simplify.

#color(blue)(6b) - color(blue)(3a)#

At this point, we have simplified as much as possible in the first parentheses. We can move on to the #(2a-b)#.

There is a subtraction sign in between the two binomials, so we can take that and distribute it across as a negative sign. Remember: #x - y = x + -y#.

#color(blue)(6b-3a) - color(purple)(2a+b)#

Now combine like terms.

#color(darkblue)(7b-5a)#