How do you simplify #-3m - 9( 6m + 5)#?

1 Answer
Nov 13, 2017

See a solution process below:

Explanation:

First, expand the term within parenthesis by multiplying each term within the parenthesis by the term outside the parenthesis. Be careful to manage the signs of the individual terms correctly:

#-3m - color(red)(9)(6m + 5) =>#

#-3m - (color(red)(9) xx 6m) - (color(red)(9) xx 5) =>#

#-3m - 54m - 45#

Now, combine the like terms:

#(-3 - 54)m - 45#

#-57m - 45#