Question

Use the Associative Property to simplify the expression 3x + (x+2) to its simplest equivalent form.

Answer 1

To simplify the expression \( 3x + (x + 2) \) using the Associative Property, we will group the terms appropriately and rearrange them.

1. Start with the expression:
\[
3x + (x + 2)
\]

2. According to the Associative Property, we can regroup the terms. Here, we can rewrite it as:
\[
(3x + x) + 2
\]

3. Now, simplify \( 3x + x \):
\[
3x + x = 4x
\]

4. Substitute this back into the expression:
\[
(3x + x) + 2 = 4x + 2
\]

Thus, the simplified equivalent form of the expression \( 3x + (x + 2) \) is:
\[
\boxed{4x + 2}
\]