document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=256560>Question 256560</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> I am having a hard time understanding the concept of putting like terms together to solve the following problem, the brackets and parentheses are really throwing me off. I understand the PEMDAS concept but I can't quite comprehend the procedure for working problems such as this. I am not asking for an answer, but a step by step explanation so that I can learn to do this on my own. Thank you in a advance for any insight you can give me.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Simplify:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "5a – {6b – 4[2a – (3 – b)]}\r<BR>\n" );
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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 #188748 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=checkley77><B>checkley77(12844)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=checkley77><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=188748\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> ALWAYS WORK FROM THE INSIDE BRACKETS OUT.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "WORK ON THE -(3-b)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "5a – {6b – 4[2a – (3 – b)]}<BR>\n" );
document.write( "5a-(6b-4[2a-3+b])<BR>\n" );
document.write( "NOW WORK ON THE -4(2a-3+b)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "5a-(6b-8a-12-b)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "NOW WORK ON THE -(6b-8a-12-b)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "5a-6b+8a+12+b<BR>\n" );
document.write( "NOW COMBINE THE a & b TERMS.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "13a-5b+12 ans. </SPAN>\n" );
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