Question

i need someone to EXPLAIN not give the answer. how would i simplify −2(n − 5)

Answer 1

You have to distribute the -2 to n and -5

Answer 2

in other words multiply -2 times n and -2 times -5

Answer 3

You need to use the distributive property of multiplication over subtraction.
The distributive property is the following:
a(b - c) = a * b - a * c

Answer 4

Now look at your problem and see how it follows the distributive property above:
−2(n − 5)
= -2 * n - (-2) * (5)
= -2n - (-10)
= -2n + 10