M6|L21 Combining Like Terms (Part 2)Sign out

Question

Write equivalent expressions.
How could you start to write equivalent expressions?
18 − 8(3x − 8)

Start left to right and subtract 18 − 8 first.

Use the distributive property to distribute the -8 to the values within the parentheses.
You got it!
Rewriting subtraction using addition can be helpful to keep track of the subtraction symbol when distributing. Start by rewriting this expression using addition.
18 − 8(3x − 8)

= 18 +
(3x +
)

Answer 1

To rewrite the expression \( 18 - 8(3x - 8) \) using addition, you can start by observing that subtraction can be rewritten as addition of the opposite:

1. Rewrite the expression: \[ 18 - 8(3x - 8) = 18 + (-8)(3x - 8) \]

2. Now, apply the distributive property to the term \(-8(3x - 8)\): \[ -8(3x) + (-8)(-8) \]

3. Calculate each term: \[ -8(3x) = -24x \] \[ -8(-8) = 64 \]

4. Putting it all together, we have: \[ 18 + (-24x + 64) \] which simplifies to: \[ 18 + 64 - 24x \]

5. Combine the constants \(18\) and \(64\): \[ 82 - 24x \]

So the equivalent expression to \(18 - 8(3x - 8)\) is: \[ 82 - 24x \]