document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=8904>Question 8904</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> 2(p + 5) - (9 + p) = -3. I can not figure out how the book got the answer of -4. Could you please show all the steps invloved? \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Thanks,<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Brandy </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #4868 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Abbey><B>Abbey(339)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-10.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Abbey><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=4868\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Since I don't know where you made your error, I can guess that either you forgot to distribute the negative sign in front of the (9+p)or you forgot to distribute the 2 to the (p+5), so:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "using the distributive property we will clear the parentheses:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "2(p + 5) - (9 + p) = -3<BR>\n" );
document.write( "2p+10-9-p=-3<BR>\n" );
document.write( "then combine like terms:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "p+1=-3<BR>\n" );
document.write( "subtract 1 from both sides:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "p=-4 </SPAN>\n" );
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