Question

Jim is showing his work in simplifying (−8.5 + 6.1) − 1.3.

Answer 1

9514 1404 393

Answer:

  In step 4, Jim's answer is incorrect.

Step-by-step explanation:

In step 1, Jim swaps the order of addends using the commutative property of addition.

In step 2, Jim uses the distributive property to factor -1 from the final two terms. (The associative property lets Jim move parentheses.)

  6.1 +(-8.5 -1.3) . . . associative property

  6.1 +(-1)(8.5 +1.3) . . . distributive property

In step 3, Jim has used the properties of real numbers to form the sum of two of them.

In step 4, Jim wrote an answer of 1.1, when the answer should have been -3.7. Jim's answer is incorrect.

__

The descriptive statements about steps 2 and 4 are both true.