document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=1027608>Question 1027608</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> What is the answer to this question?<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Determine which expression is equivalent to 3/4-x(1/2-5/8)+(-3/8x)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "A. -3/4x<BR>\n" );
document.write( "B. 1/2x<BR>\n" );
document.write( "C. 1/8-7/8x<BR>\n" );
document.write( "D. 3/4-1/4x<BR>\n" );
document.write( "So I did try to simplify the expression and got 3/4-x(-1/8)+(-3/8x). I don't know what to do now?! Please help! </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #642823 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Theo><B>Theo(13342)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Theo><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/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=Theo><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=642823\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> looking at where you got to and got stuck, let's see what we can do, if anything, to further simplify it.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "the original expression is:\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "3/4-x(1/2-5/8)+(-3/8x)\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "you got:\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "3/4-x(-1/8)+(-3/8x)\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "looks like you were able to simplify (1/2 - 5/8) correctly.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "to simplify further, you have to perform the operations indicated.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "+(-3/8x) is equivalent to -3/8x \r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "-x(-1/8) is equivalent to 1/8x.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "the expression becomes 3/4 + 1/8x - 3/8x\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "1/8x - 3/8x is equal to -2/8x\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "the expression becomes 3/4 - 2/8x\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "2/8x is equivalent to 1/4x\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "the expression becomes 3/4 - 1/4x\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "that looks like selection D.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "sometimes it's helpful to insert the operational symbols where they are implied.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "that makes it easier to analyze.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "your original expression was, once again:\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "3/4-x(1/2-5/8)+(-3/8x)\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "after insertion of implied operational symbols, the expression becomes:\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "3/4 - x * (1/2 - 5/8) + (-3/8 * x)\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "your original simplification was correct, so we'll go with that to get:\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "3/4 - x * (-1/8) + (-3/8 * x)\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "x * (-1/8) is equivalent to -1/8 * x, so the expression becomes:\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "3/4 - (-1/8) * x + (-3/8 * x)\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "since multiplying a negative by another negative results in a positive, the expression becomes:\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "3/4 + 1/8 * x + (-3/8 * x)\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "since adding a negative is the same as subtracting a positive, the expression becomes:\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "3/4 + 1/8 * x - 3/8 * x\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "you combine like terms by taking + 1/8 * x - 3/8 * x and combining them to get -2/8 * x.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "the expression becomes 3/4 - 2/8 * x.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "since 2/8 * x can be simplified to -1/4 * x, the final expression becomes:\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "3/4 - 1/4 * x.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "this is the same as 3/4 - 1/4x shown in selection D.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "one way to confirm you did the simplification correctly is to assign a random value to x and evaluate the original expression and the final expression using that value.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "if the result is the same, then you simplified correctly.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "i chose x = 13 at random.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "you can use your calculator for this to avoid unnecessary extra work in resolving fractions.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "i used my calculator after assigning the value of 13 to x and i got:\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "the original expression of 3/4-x(1/2-5/8)+(-3/8x) = -2.5\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "the final expression of 3/4 - 1/4 * x = -2.5\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "the result was the same so i can assume my simplification is correct.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );