document.write( "Question 4821: When working equations with parenthesis, what is the rule for the \"sign\" in front of the parenthesis?
\n" ); document.write( "Example #1: 2x + 5x -3(4 + 3) = -21; will the plus sign inside of the parenthesis become a minus (negative) sign and the negative sign in front of the 3 outside of the parenthesis become a positive sign? \r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Example #2: 2x + 5x 3(4 - 3) = -21; will the minus (negative) sign inside of the parenthesis not change because of the 3 outside of the parenthesis is a
\n" ); document.write( "positive sign?\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Thank You,
\n" ); document.write( "TSJ - AL
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Algebra.Com's Answer #2320 by Abbey(339) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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Think about the minus sign as being a negative attached to the number immediately following it. In the first example the negative is in front of the 3, so when you clear the parentheses, you will multiply -3 times what is inside (in this case it is seven)\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "If there is no number in front of the parentheses, it indicates the number one is in front, so you would multiply everything inside the parentheses by -1.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Example:\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "-3(4+3+x) = -3(7+x) = -21-3x
\n" ); document.write( "-3(4+3-x) = -3(7-x) = -21+3x
\n" ); document.write( "-(4+3+x) = -1(7+x) = -7-x \n" ); document.write( "

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