Question

@jeremyggg Simplify 2(x + 4) + 3(x - 4) this is my next question lol im not good at simplifing at all can you walk me through it?

Answer 1

ah ok! it worked!

Answer 2

\(2(x + 4) + 3(x - 4)\)

You will distribute 2 into the first parenthesis by multiplying it to 'x' and '4'.

\(2 \times x = 2x\)

\(2 \times 4 = 8\)

Now we have: \('2x + 8'\).

Then we distribute 3 into the second parenthesis by multiplying it to 'x' and '-4'.

\(3 \times x = 3x\)

\(3 \times -4 = -12\)

So we have \('3x - 12'\).

Now we combine our two equations and keep the addition sign:

\((2x + 8) + (3x - 12)\)

Answer 3

ok now how do i do that last part so i can get my answer?

Answer 4

The last part is combining like terms:

This is where we left off:

\(2x + 8 + 3x - 12\)

Our like terms are: \((2x, 3x)\), and \((8, -12)\)

\(2x + 3x = 5x\)

\(8 - 12 = -4\)

So your final answer is \('5x - 4'\).

Answer 5

Do you get it? @stocksro

Answer 6

yes thats how i thought i sould do it im trying to do my best on this pre test so i can pass algebra 2

Answer 7

Okay.

Answer 8

2(x + 4) + 3(x - 4) ahh would you like a little teaching on how to never get confused when simplifying? a little understanding of how to control these signs?

Answer 9

yes plz

Answer 10

if there is ever a number multiplied by another number you will do this math RIGHT away.
if i said x = 2
and said what is 2x +3? you could solve this easy right?

Answer 11

now... we are gonna make it a little complex for a second, but just trust me!
what about
2(x+1) + 3?

at the moment we dont know what x is! x+1 equals some number that we cant know because x isnt given so lets just say x+1 is y.
now it is like saying 2y + 3!

Answer 12

we arent taking this approach to solve this because it is a bad idea to complicate it! i just wanted to explain how 2(x+1)+3 and 2x+3 are EXACTLY alike.

Answer 13

lol god i get so confused i math

Answer 14

now... onto the problem!
2(x + 4) + 3(x - 4) what do we do first? we look for what is being multiplied and separated by the plus sign. I like to think of the plus sign as the final bit of work to be done last. if you REALLY wanna not be confused... put brackets around everything that the plus sign separates! (dont worry, this will all come together soon!)

Answer 15

[2(x+4)] + [3(x+4)]

Answer 16

now that these are separated by the brackets we can do one side at a time! you didnt get lost here right?

Answer 17

nope im still with you

Answer 18

ok so let us not lose these brackets! ill do the left side of the + you do the right once i finish.

Answer 19

[2(x+4)]
i distribute this 2!

Answer 20

keeping up with my brackets! nothing can leave them.

Answer 21

nooo i messed

Answer 22

[2x+8] is my side

Answer 23

[2(x+4)] + [3(x+4)] now do your side

Answer 24

3x+12 right?

Answer 25

yep but dont lose the brackets until we are done with as much as we can!

Answer 26

which.. at this point we are.

Answer 27

[2x+8] + [3x+12]
now we are ready to remove em and simplify. (this goes much faster once you understand!)
2x+8 +3x+12 without the brackets. you can take it from here?

Answer 28

no wait!

Answer 29

i copied the problem wrong! sorry. its 3x-12 because your side is [3(x-4)] oops!
so 2x+8+3x-12

Answer 30

i hope you have another one of these because i bet you can solve it super fast the second time around

Answer 31

so the answer is 5x-4?

Answer 32

am i right?

Answer 33

you are!

Answer 34

my approach when i did these back then, give a little space between those plus signs and distribute right away for the parenthesis. then just do what you did to get 5x-4!

Answer 35

now this is another question that i need you to walk me through

Answer 36

im ready!

Answer 37

If g(x) = 2x + 2, find g(a + h) - g(a).

Answer 38

and then it gives you a and h right?

Answer 39

and btw i had another one that was like this Simplify 3(x - 2) + 5x i got 8x-6 did i do it right :) and no that was the whole problem then it gives me 3 answer choices and those are 2h 2h+4 h+2

Answer 40

Yes that is right!

Answer 41

If g(x) = 2x + 2, find g(a + h) - g(a).

Answer 42

ok this one is set up to sound tricky. but it also isn't!

Answer 43

lol great i understand how to simplify !!! and how do i do this tricky problem

Answer 44

the minus sign is just an unfancy plus sign! give them some space also.
so...
g(a+h) - g(a)

Answer 45

we know that g(x) =2x+2 so this is our formula we use.
let's see you explain this one! do the left side first!

Answer 46

remember, we just plug in for x whatever is in the parenthesis!

Answer 47

ooh and when you sub for x, everything being subbed must be in parenthesis where the x was.

Answer 48

g(x) =2(x)+2

Answer 49

think you can do it?

Answer 50

g(x) = 2x+2.
FIND g(a+h) - g(a)

Answer 51

can you do this one bc im so lost in it

Answer 52

ill tell you what to do and you solve it! i think you'll be surprised

Answer 53

first, lets work on the left side!
g(x) = 2x+2
g(a+h) - g(a)

you gotta plug in what is in the parenthesis for x!

Answer 54

here. ill do the right side first.
g(a)
so if g(x) =2x+2
g(a) = 2(a) +2

Answer 55

so you just took a and put it in for x

Answer 56

yep. just like we do with numbers. nothing is different or scary with letters! letters are easier than numbers!

Answer 57

g(a+h) - g(a) i found g(a) now you find g(a+h)!

Answer 58

g(x) =2x+2

Answer 59

so it would be 2(a+h)+2

Answer 60

yep!

Answer 61

now simplify that!

Answer 62

can you show me bc the +h throws me off