SOLUTION: Please help me solve this equation with the best step-by-step method for this equation. I know to start from the inside out, but what to do with the numbers and letters has confuse

Algebra ->  Equations -> SOLUTION: Please help me solve this equation with the best step-by-step method for this equation. I know to start from the inside out, but what to do with the numbers and letters has confuse      Log On


   



Question 28336: Please help me solve this equation with the best step-by-step method for this equation. I know to start from the inside out, but what to do with the numbers and letters has confused me.
3d-{7d+[(5d-4)-2(4d-7)-(d+1)]-3}

Answer by elima(1433) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
3d-{7d+[(5d-4)-2(4d-7)-(d+1)]-3}
You are right you do start from the inside and work out. You can only add like terms together. So look at the parenthesis inside the bracket; You can not solve them any more becuase they are not like terms. Now you can distribute
-2(4d-7)=8d-14
Now the problem;
3d-{7d+[(5d-4)-(8d-14)-(d+1)]-3}
Now distribute the -1 that are outside the parenthesis and drop the parenthesis;
5d-4+(-8d)+14+(-d)-1
Now you can add like terms;
5d-8d-d-4+14-1=-4d-9;
3d-{7d+(-4d-9)}-3;
Add the like terms; 7d+(-4d-9)=3d-9
3d+3d-9-3=6d-12
Hope this helps, I know it can be confusing without being able to go step by step with you;
=)