Question

Question #dfc9b

Answer 1

This isn't the place to get answers for your homework, so I won't give them to you. But I will help you understand how to answer these questions yourself.

Explanation:

The only concept that needs addressing in this answer is how to expand brackets.

With addition, brackets can be removed with not problem. So, `a + (b+c) = a+b+c` and `a+(b-c)=a+b-c`.

With subtraction, we have to be a bit more careful. When expanding a bracket with a minus sign before it, we have to remember the sign of each term changes (because we multiply it by `-1`). So, `a-(b+c) = a-b-c` and `a-(b-c) = a-b+c`.

The final thing to mention is that when bringing like terms together, we use the sign that comes before the terms and not the operation. So, `(2a+1) - (a-5) = 2a+1-a+5 = a+6` and `(2a+1) + (5-a) = a+6`. Although the operation in the second example was addition, we subtract as the sign before `a` was `-`. This is an area where students can easily make mistakes..