document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=181564>Question 181564</A>This question is from textbook <A HREF=http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0201196719/algebrahomeworkh>introductory algebra</A><BR>\n" );
document.write( ": <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> The name of this book is \"Introductory Algebra\" By Keedy/Bittinger.6th edition.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "The page number is 102 problem #37.  I am homeschooling my daughter and am having some trouble solving this problem. Thanks for any help you might can offer. <BR>\n" );
document.write( "3{[7(x-2)+4]-[2(2x-5)+6]}<BR>\n" );
document.write( "If you could please help to solve this and also explain what the different parentheses mean..<BR>\n" );
document.write( "thank you so much<BR>\n" );
document.write( "J.T </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #136164 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Earlsdon><B>Earlsdon(6294)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Earlsdon><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=136164\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> You can't really \"solve\" an expression such as you have here but you certainly can \"simplify\" it, so we'll show how that's done.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "3{[7(x-2)+4]-[2(2x-5)+6]} The different parentheses don't have any particular meaning and are used only as a grouping symbol. To simplify this expression, start on the inner parentheses (), then go on to the curly brackets {}, then to the square brackets [].<BR>\n" );
document.write( "3{[7(x-2)+4]-[2(2x-5)+6]} Apply the \"distributive property\" on 7(x-2) = 7x-14 and 2(2x-5)=4x-10, to get:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "3{[7x-14+4]-[4x-10+6]} Now simplify the quantities inside the square brackets []<BR>\n" );
document.write( "3{[7x-10]-[4x-4]} Now you can combine the insides of the two square brackets and, of course, remember to change the sign of the second group.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "3{7x-10-4x+4} Combine like-terms inside the curly brackets {}.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "3{3x-6} Finally, apply the distributive property to get:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "9x-18 as the answer. </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );