Question

Confused, Algebra 2?

Question 1:

What I did -

STEP 1. 5a + 5b; a = -6 and b = -5

Plug in for the given variables a (-6) and b (-5)

(5 * -6) + (5 * -5)

STEP 2. (5 • -6) + (5 • -5)

Simplify using PEMDAS
(when subtracting a negative number from another negative numnber you add the amount being subtracted as a positive number.

-30 + 25

STEP 3. -30 + 25

Solve.
-5

What My Teacher Said -

She gave me partial credit and her comment was "-30 - 25 = ?"

Answer 1

That's because you added 25.
(5 • -6) + (5 • -5) = (-30) + (-25)

-30 - 25 = -55

Answer 2

when 'adding' a negative number to another negative number ... think of a negative as a hole, and you are making the hole deeper.

-a + -b = -a-b = -(a+b)