Answer: -2.75*x - 4.7
Step-by-step explanation:
In the equation we have only one variable, this means that the minimum possible number of terms will be two, one term with x, and one term without x.
We can start with the equation:
(-0.25x - 3) - (2.5x + 1.7)
Now, let's rewrite this as:
-0.25x - 3 - 2.5x - 1.7
(-0.25*x - 2.5*x) + (-3 - 1.7)
Solving the parentheses we get:
-2.75*x - 4.7
That is the equivalent expression that has the fewest possible terms