Final answer:
To simplify the expression 2 + (g + 5), remove the parentheses and combine like terms, resulting in the simplified expression g + 7. There is no need to solve for g, and the simplified form confirms that our answer is reasonable.
Step-by-step explanation:
When we are asked to simplify the expression 2 + (g + 5), our goal is to combine like terms to make the expression as straightforward as possible. The given expression includes a number outside of the parenthesis and a binomial (two terms) inside the parenthesis. The process to simplify the expression involves two main steps:
- Remove the parentheses by applying the distributive property: Since there is no multiplication involved in front of the parentheses, we can simply drop the parentheses without changing any signs within them. The expression now looks like this: 2 + g + 5.
- Combine like terms: We look for terms that are similar—terms that have the same variable raised to the same power or constants—and add them together. In this expression, we have two constant terms, 2 and 5. Now let's combine them: 2 + 5 = 7. Therefore, we are left with g + 7.
After these steps, our simplified expression is g + 7. This is as simplified as it can get since we cannot add a variable to a number without knowing the value of the variable. Next, check the answer to ensure it's reasonable: the original expression was meant to be simplified without solving for g, and our simplified form, g + 7, meets this requirement, confirming that it's reasonable.