Question

Rewrite in simplest terms: 5, left parenthesis, minus, c, minus, c, minus, 1, right parenthesis, minus, 4, c5(−c−c−1)−4c

Answer 1

To simplify the expression \( 5(-c - c - 1) - 4c \), first combine the terms inside the parentheses:

1. Combine the like terms:
\[
-c - c = -2c
\]
So,
\[
-c - c - 1 = -2c - 1
\]

2. Now substitute this back into the expression:
\[
5(-2c - 1) - 4c
\]

3. Distribute the 5:
\[
5 \cdot (-2c) + 5 \cdot (-1) - 4c = -10c - 5 - 4c
\]

4. Now combine the like terms \( -10c - 4c \):
\[
-10c - 4c = -14c
\]

5. So the final simplified expression is:
\[
-14c - 5
\]

Therefore, the simplest form of the expression is:
\[
-14c - 5
\]