a. Simplify, your answer should contain no exponents. 12−5⋅127 b. Using complete sentences, explain the steps to simplify this problem.

Answer 1

To simplify the expression \( 12 - 5 \cdot 127 \), follow these steps:

1. Identify Operations: The expression contains subtraction and multiplication. According to the order of operations (PEMDAS/BODMAS), you should perform the multiplication before the subtraction.

2. Perform Multiplication: Calculate \( 5 \cdot 127 \).

   • This results in \( 5 \times 127 = 635 \).

3. Subtraction: Now substitute back into the expression. The expression becomes \( 12 - 635 \).

4. Calculate the Result: Now perform the subtraction:

   • \( 12 - 635 = -623 \).

So, the simplified answer is \( -623 \).