Question

If a+b=5 and x+y=3,

what is −2x−5a−5b−2y?

Answer 1

what do you think?

Answer 2

**−2x−5a−5b−2y?***

try writing it like this:
-2x + -2y + -5a + -5b

now "factor out" -2 from the first two terms
also, factor out -5 from the other two terms

what do you get ?

Answer 3

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Answer 4

\[-2y+-5b\]
?

Answer 5

-31

Answer 6

when you factor, the x (and a) do not disappear

Here is an example:
2(3+4) means 2*3 + 2*4 (you can check: 2*(3+4) is 2*7= 14, and this matches 2*3=6
added to 2*4= 8: 6+8= 14.)

anyway: if you see 2*3 + 2*4 you can "undo the distribute" by factoring out the 2
you get 2*(3+4)

if you have letters it works the same way
example: -2a + -2b
you have -2 in both terms. factor it out: -2(a+b)