Final answer:
To simplify the expression 7x - 42, we can't combine the terms, so the expression is 7x - 42. Checking the answer by substituting a value for x confirms the simplification.
Step-by-step explanation:
To simplify the expression 7x - 42, we first eliminate terms wherever possible. In this case, we can't combine the terms.
So, the simplified expression is 7x - 42.
To check if the answer is reasonable, we can substitute a value for x and evaluate the expression.
For example, if x = 5, we have 7(5) - 42 = 35 - 42 = -7.
This confirms that the expression is simplified correctly.