SOLUTION: My son brought home a few 6th grade algebra problems and I can not remember how to work them. He does not have his book...so please help if you can. I'm not even sure what this i

Algebra ->  Equations -> SOLUTION: My son brought home a few 6th grade algebra problems and I can not remember how to work them. He does not have his book...so please help if you can. I'm not even sure what this i      Log On


   

Question 301114: My son brought home a few 6th grade algebra problems and I can not remember how to work them. He does not have his book...so please help if you can. I'm not even sure what this is called (been a long time for me). Here's one problem:
5(2a-1b+3a).
Thank you for considering.
Found 3 solutions by nyc_function, Alan3354, Earlsdon:
Answer by nyc_function(2741) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Just use the distributive law.
In other words, multiply 5 by every term inside the parentheses.
5(2a - 1b + 3a) = 10a - 5b + 15a
We now combine like terms.
Final Answer: 25a - 5b
NOTE: There is no reason to place a 1 in front of any variable.
For example, the middle term in the parentheses given to your son 1b can also be written as b. Both terms mean the same thing.

Answer by Alan3354(69443) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
5(2a-1b+3a)
= 5(5a - b) (no need to type 1b)
= 25a - 5b

Answer by Earlsdon(6294) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
It looks like he's working on the "distributive property"
Simplify:
5%282a-1b%2B3a%29 Multiply every term inside the parentheses by the number (5) that's on the outside of the parentheses.
%285%2A2a-5%2A1b%2B5%2A3a%29 Simplify.
10a-5b%2B15a Collect the like-terms together.
%2810a%2B15a%29-5b
highlight%2825a-5b%29