Question

Hank is working on simplifying the algebraic expression 4x−14 when x=5 . Her steps are as follows: Step 1: 45−14 Step 2: 20−14 Step 3: 6 In which step did Jenny make a mistake? What should she have done differently? (1 point) Responses Step 2, Jenny should've calculated the value of 45 to be 1,024. Step 2, Jenny should've calculated the value of 4 to the 5th power to be 1,024. Step 3, 20−14 should be 20÷14 . Step 3, 20 minus 14 should be 20 divided by 14. Step 2, Jenny should've added 4 and 5 to get 9. Step 2, Jenny should've added 4 and 5 to get 9. Step 1, Jenny should've multiplied 4⋅5 instead of writing 5 as the exponent.

Answer 1

The error occurs in Step 1. The expression 4x−14 should be evaluated by substituting \( x = 5 \) into \( 4x \), not raising 5 to an exponent.

Here's the correct process:
1. Substitute \( x = 5 \) in the expression:
\[
4(5) - 14
\]
2. Multiply:
\[
20 - 14
\]
3. Subtract:
\[
6
\]

Thus, in Step 1, Jenny mistakenly wrote \( 45 \) instead of \( 4(5) \).

The correct response is: **Step 1, Jenny should've multiplied \( 4 \cdot 5 \) instead of writing \( 5 \) as the exponent.**