document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=142385>Question 142385</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Simplify the expression:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "3 - [7x + 2y - {5x - 9y} + 2x + 4y] \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #103671 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=ptaylor><B>ptaylor(2198)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=ptaylor><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=ptaylor><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=103671\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> 3 - [7x + 2y - {5x - 9y} + 2x + 4y] \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Get rid of the innermost bracket first:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "3-[7x+2y-5x+9y+2x+4y]  now get rid of the other bracket (multiply each term inside the bracket by -1):\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "3-7x-2y+5x-9y-2x-4y<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Next, collect like terms:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "-4x-15y+3\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Hope this helps---ptaylor\r<BR>\n" );
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