How do you simplify #(- 5x - 3a ) - ( 6a + 4x )#?

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Answer 1 · 2017-09-19T03:14:43

See a solution process below:

First, remove all of the terms from parenthesis. Be careful to handle the signs of each individual term correctly:

#-5x - 3a - 6a - 4x#

Next, group like terms:

#-5x - 4x - 3a - 6a#

Now, combine like terms:

#(-5 - 4)x + (-3 - 6)a#

#-9x + (-9)a#

#-9x - 9a#

Or, we can factor out the common #-9# to give:

#-9(x + a)#