document.write( "Question 7656: simplify expression 8a+7-11a \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #4251 by drglass(89)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
I'm assuming you understand commutativity and associativity, because they are required for this problem.
\n" ); document.write( "

\n" ); document.write( "To be hyper-exact, we need to re-write this expression as follows:
\n" ); document.write( "(8a + 7) - 11a
\n" ); document.write( "

\n" ); document.write( "Using commutativity, we can switch 8a and 7 to get:
\n" ); document.write( "(7 + 8a) - 11a
\n" ); document.write( "

\n" ); document.write( "Now, use the associative property:
\n" ); document.write( "7 + (8a - 11a)
\n" ); document.write( "

\n" ); document.write( "This gives us
\n" ); document.write( "7 - 3a
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" );