What is the expression 4 + 8 (3x - 2) - 7x when simplified? Apply the order of operations and the commutative and distributive properties. Show all your work.

Answer 1

First, we need to distribute the 8 to the terms inside the parentheses:

4 + 8(3x) - 8(2) - 7x

Simplifying further, we get:

4 + 24x - 16 - 7x

Next, we can combine like terms:

(24x - 7x) + (4 - 16)

Simplifying further:

17x - 12

So, the simplified expression is 17x - 12.