SOLUTION: Use the distributive property to rewrite the expression without parentheses: 3 (-5s - 2) My answer was -15s - 6 My college tutor came up with 3(-5s) - 3(2) .. but I don't

Algebra ->  Algebra  -> Expressions -> SOLUTION: Use the distributive property to rewrite the expression without parentheses: 3 (-5s - 2) My answer was -15s - 6 My college tutor came up with 3(-5s) - 3(2) .. but I don't      Log On

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Question 19114: Use the distributive property to rewrite the expression without parentheses:
3 (-5s - 2)
My answer was -15s - 6
My college tutor came up with 3(-5s) - 3(2) .. but I don't get that, because thee are still parenthesis.
Is my answer correct?
Answer by Alwayscheerful(414) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Solved by pluggable solver: EXPLAIN simplification of an expression
Your Result:
Simplify 3*(-5s-2)
Your Answer:
  • Graphical form: 3%2A%28-5s-2%29 simplifies to -15%2As-6
  • Text form: 3*(-5s-2) simplifies to -15*s-6
  • Cartoon (animation) form: simplify_cartoon%28+3%2A%28-5s-2%29+%29
    simplify_cartoon( 3*(-5s-2) )

Detailed explanation:

Look at highlight_red%28+3%2A%28-5%2As-2%29+%29.
Expanded term 3 by using associative property on %28-5%2As-2%29
It becomes -highlight_green%28+3%2A5%2As+%29-highlight_green%28+3%2A2+%29.
Look at -highlight_red%28+3+%29%2Ahighlight_red%28+5+%29%2As-3%2A2.
Multiplied numerator integers
It becomes -highlight_green%28+15+%29%2As-3%2A2.
Look at -15%2As-highlight_red%28+3+%29%2Ahighlight_red%28+2+%29.
Multiplied numerator integers
It becomes -15%2As-highlight_green%28+6+%29.
Result: -15%2As-6

Done!

You guys are both correct.
You just simplified more (which is better)
I don't know why your tutor didn't simplify even more, that's odd.
Hope this helps!