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Question 477949: The problem I am having trouble with is worded as:
from -16m + 18n -19p Subtract 17m -37n + 46p
the solution/answer is : -1m -55n -65p
I am not understanding how to get the answer, how do I change the positive numbers to negative?
Thank you,
Cindy
Answer by Theo(13342)   (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! if the problem is worded correctly, then -m - 55n - 65p is not your answer.
you want to subtract (17m - 37n + 46p) from (-16m + 18n - 19p)
in equation form, that reads as:
(-16m + 18n - 19p) - (17m - 37n + 46p)
remove parentheses to get:
-16m + 18n - 19p - 17m + 37n - 46p
combine like terms to get:
-33m + 55n - 65p
if your answer is supposed to be -m - 55n - 65p then something is wrong with the expressions.
if you had (16m - 18n - 19p) - (17m + 37n + 46p) then you would get an answer that looks like -m - 55n - 65p
you would remove parentheses to get 16m - 18n - 19p - 17m - 37n - 46p
you would combine like terms to get:
-m - 55n - 65p
based on the way you presented those expressions, there's no way you're going to get -m - 55n - 65p if you subtract one from the other.
even if you reversed the subtraction to get:
(17m - 37n + 46p) - (-16m + 18n - 19p) you would wind up with:
remove parentheses to get:
17m - 37n + 46p + 16m - 18n + 19p which would then become:
33m - 55n + 65p
it's not possible to get -m - 55n - 65p the way the problem is originally presented.
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