<span><span><span>−<span>3.5x</span></span>+7</span>−<span>(<span><span>5.3x</span>−4</span>)</span></span>Distribute the Negative Sign:<span>=<span><span><span>−<span>3.5x</span></span>+7</span>+<span><span>−1</span><span>(<span><span>5.3x</span>−4</span>)</span></span></span></span><span>=<span><span><span><span>−<span>3.5x</span></span>+7</span>+<span><span>−1</span><span>(<span>5.3x</span>)</span></span></span>+<span><span>(<span>−1</span>)</span><span>(<span>−4</span>)</span></span></span></span><span>=<span><span><span><span><span>−<span>3.5x</span></span>+7</span>+</span>−<span>5.3x</span></span>+4</span></span>Combine Like Terms:<span>=<span><span><span><span>−<span>3.5x</span></span>+7</span>+<span>−<span>5.3x</span></span></span>+4</span></span><span>=<span><span>(<span><span>−<span>3.5x</span></span>+<span>−<span>5.3x</span></span></span>)</span>+<span>(<span>7+4</span>)</span></span></span><span>=<span><span>−<span>8.8x</span></span>+11</span></span>Answer:<span>=<span><span>−<span>8.8x</span></span>+<span>11</span></span></span>