The sum of algebraic terms has the commutative property, such as the sum of numbers. Remember that the commutative property says that a + b = b +a, t his is ther order of the numbers do not change the result of the sum. You just must be sure to keep the signs. So in this case 2x - 17 = -17 + 2x, and the answer is the optcion a. -17 + 2x.