Question

Pablo is simplifying the expression below.

Negative one-fourth (8 x + 12) minus (negative 2 x + 5)

He used the steps below to simplify the expression.

Negative one-fourth (8 x + 12) minus (negative 2 x + 5) = negative 2 x minus 3 + 2 x minus 5 = negative 8


Which statement is true about the steps that Pablo used to simplify the expression?
He combined like terms inside the parentheses, distributed Negative one-fourth over (8 x + 12), and then combined the remaining like terms.
He combined like terms inside the parentheses, distributed Negative one-fourth over (Negative 2 x + 5), and then combined the remaining like terms.
He distributed Negative one-fourth over (8 x + 12), distributed 1 over (Negative 2 x + 5), and then combined like terms.
He distributed Negative one-fourth over (8 x + 12), distributed –1 over (Negative 2 x + 5), and then combined like terms.

Answer 1

The fourth statement is true.

Pablo distributed -1/4 across (8x + 12) to get -2x - 3, and he distributed -1 across (−2x + 5) (because of the leading minus sign) to get +2x - 5, then combined like terms to get -8.