Question

Which value of a would make the following statement true -2(x + a) = -2x - 4?
A. -4
B. -2
C. 2
D. 4

Answer 1

If you distribute the -2 through on the left side, what do you get?

Answer 2

x+a=-2x-4?

Answer 3

Do you know what I mean when I say "distribute the -2 through"? The number outside the parentheses is multiplied THROUGH the parentheses.... e.g....

a(b + c) = ab + ac

5(y + 1) = 5y + 5(1) = 5y + 5

Answer 4

Now, do that for

-2(x + a)

And what do you get?

Answer 5

-4?

Answer 6

Where did the variables go?? Look at my example above.

Answer 7

a(b + c) = ab + ac

5(y + 1) = 5y + 5(1) = 5y + 5