Question 770863: when using the distributive property,if we have subtraction sign do we subtract or add?
Ex: 4(x-5)
plz help me,thanku Answer by solver91311(24713) (Show Source):
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.
You NEVER subtract. You add a negative number. Do not think of as "x subtract 5". It is "x plus a negative 5", thus: .
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 .
John
Egw to Beta kai to Sigma
My calculator said it, I believe it, that settles it
