Question

Use the distributive property to simplify the expression below:
-5x+15/-5

-x - 3

x + 15

x + 3

x - 3

Answer 1

Gotta love that distributive property. So, to start off, lets just worry about the numerator, -5x-15. Find the greatest common factor (the biggest number that you can divide both terms by) and factor that out. The greatest common factor is -5, which when you distribute out, gives you -5(x+3). To check this, distribute the -5 back to the x and the 3, and you get -5x+15, which is what you started out with. Now rewrite the equation: \[\frac{ -5(x-3) }{ -5 }\]
Notice that -5/-5 equals one, so they cancel out, leaving you with:
x-3.
I hope that helps.