document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=176323>Question 176323</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> 9)  A student claims that a – b – c is the same as a – ( b – c ).  How do you respond?<BR>\n" );
document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #131416 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=jim_thompson5910><B>jim_thompson5910(35256)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=jim_thompson5910><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/images/nopicture.jpg><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=131416\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Let's assume that <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=a-b-c=a-%28b-c%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"a-b-c=a-%28b-c%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > \r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=a-b-c=a-%28b-c%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"a-b-c=a-%28b-c%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Start with the given equation.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=a-b-c=a-b%2Bc ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"a-b-c=a-b%2Bc\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Distribute the negative. Remember, this negative applies to EVERYTHING in the parenthesis. So change the sign of \"b\" to get \"-b\" and change the sign of \"-c\" to get \"c\"\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=-b-c=-b%2Bc ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"-b-c=-b%2Bc\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Subtract \"a\" from both sides.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=-c=c ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"-c=c\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Subtract \"b\" from both sides.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "Because the equation above is NOT true for all values of \"c\" (in fact, it's only true if <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=c=0 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"c=0\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >), this means that <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=a-b-c=a-%28b-c%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"a-b-c=a-%28b-c%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > is NOT true.<BR>\n" );
document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );