document.write( "Question 770863: when using the distributive property,if we have subtraction sign do we subtract or add?
\n" ); document.write( "Ex: 4(x-5)
\n" ); document.write( "plz help me,thanku \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #469814 by solver91311(24713) $\"\"$ $\"About$

You can put this solution on YOUR website!
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Save yourself a lot of heartache and grief. Forget you ever heard the words \"subtract\" and \"subtraction\". There are only three basic operations in algebra, addition, multiplication, and raising to a power.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "You NEVER subtract. You add a negative number. Do not think of

as \"x subtract 5\". It is \"x plus a negative 5\", thus:

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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Without re-writing every problem, just remember that the sign is bound to the number it preceeds. With that in mind, he process of applying the distributive property in your example is 4 times x plus 4 times -5, or

which you would then write as

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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "John
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\n" ); document.write( "Egw to Beta kai to Sigma
\n" ); document.write( "My calculator said it, I believe it, that settles it
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$\"The$

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