Question

What is the simplified expression for the expression below?

(-5x + 20) - (4x - 28)

a. –2x +3
b. –2x – 3
c. –2x – 8
d. –2x + 8

Answer 1

The simplified expression for (-5x + 20) - (4x - 28) is -9x + 48. None of the provided options match this result.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student is asking how to simplify the algebraic expression (-5x + 20) - (4x - 28).

To simplify this expression, you should perform the operation indicated which is subtracting the second parenthesis from the first one. This involves changing the sign of each term inside the second parenthesis before combining like terms. The steps are as follows:

• Distribute the negative sign to the terms inside the second parenthesis: (-5x + 20) - 4x + 28.
• Combine like terms: -5x - 4x becomes -9x, and 20 + 28 becomes 48.
• The simplified expression is -9x + 48.
• Therefore, none of the options a. – 2x +3, b. – 2x – 3, c. – 2x – 8, d. – 2x + 8 matches the simplified expression.