Question

Samuel used the distributive property to simplify the expression -6(-2 - 10x) - 7x and came up with 53x - 12 which is incorrect. What is Samuel’s mistake? What is the correct answer?

Answer 1

Answer:

He messed up the signs, most likely by multiplying incorrectly. It should be 53x+12.

Step-by-step explanation:

You begin by multiplying both -2 and -10x by -6.

Remember a negative times a negative makes a positive.

-6(-2-10x)

12+60x

Then you need to combine like terms which are 60x and -7x

60x-7x

53x

So that means the final answer will be

53x+12