How do you simplify #9 - (-12) + 4 - 16 - (-11) + 8 - (-2)#?

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Answer 1 · 2016-09-11T17:55:56

#35#

Always count the number of terms first. Each term will simplify to a single answer and they can be added or subtracted in the last step.

The first thing to be considered in this expression is the removal of brackets using the correct signs.

There are 7 terms.

#9 color(red)(- (-12)) + 4 - 16 color(red)(- (-11)) + 8 color(red)(- (-2))#

=#9 color(red)(+12) + 4 - 16 color(red) ( +16) + 8 color(red)(+2)#

It is usually better to move all the " adds " to the beginning and move the " subtracts " to the back, but in this case we have

#-16+16 =0#, and we only have additions left.

=#9+12+4 cancel(-16+16)+8+2" " larr "add left to right"#

=#35#