Expand and simplify: 5(2a - 3) - 2(a + 4).

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Multiple Choice

Expand and simplify: 5(2a - 3) - 2(a + 4).

Explanation:
Distributing and collecting like terms is what this is testing. Start by applying the distributive property to each bracket: 5(2a - 3) becomes 10a - 15, and -2(a + 4) becomes -2a - 8. Now combine like terms: 10a and -2a add up to 8a, while -15 and -8 add up to -23. Put together, you get 8a - 23. This is the expression that comes from distributing correctly and then combining like terms. If you see a different result, double-check the signs when distributing, especially the -2 times +4 equals -8, and make sure you’re adding the a-terms and the constants separately.

Distributing and collecting like terms is what this is testing. Start by applying the distributive property to each bracket: 5(2a - 3) becomes 10a - 15, and -2(a + 4) becomes -2a - 8. Now combine like terms: 10a and -2a add up to 8a, while -15 and -8 add up to -23. Put together, you get 8a - 23. This is the expression that comes from distributing correctly and then combining like terms. If you see a different result, double-check the signs when distributing, especially the -2 times +4 equals -8, and make sure you’re adding the a-terms and the constants separately.

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