Quandaries and Queries
  

 

Hi, my name is erika and i would like to ask you a mathematical question on Simplifying Variable Expressions. I am only in the 7th grade and in pre-algebra. The question is 2(n-4)+3.

Thanks for your time!!
 

 

Hi Erika,

The simplification is possible because of the way that the multiplication by 2 distributes across the factor (n-4). For example, if n were 7 then you could calculate 2(n - 4) as

2(n - 4) = 2(7 - 4) = 2 3 = 6 or as 2(n - 4) = 2(7 - 4) = (2 7) - (2 4) = 14 - 8 = 6

Your expression is 2(n - 4) + 3 which simplifies to

2(n - 4) + 3 = (2 n) - (2 4) + 3 = 2n - 8 + 3 = 2n - 5

Cheers,
Penny 		 
 

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