Question

How do you simplify `(- 6x + 1) - ( - 3x + 1)`?

Answer 1

`-3x`

Explanation:

`(-6x+1) - (-3x+1)`

When multiplying a negative by a negative, your negative automatically becomes a positive.

Also, it helps if you imagine that in between two problems (basically in between the parentheses) and behind the sign there is always a `1` (of course, if there IS a number there, the number shown would be used instead of `1`).

You should always remember to ONLY add numbers together if they have something in common.

Anyways, due to this, your expression should now look like this;

`-6x+1+3x-1`

The ones would be canceled out and you would be left with

`-6x+3x`

which would then equal

`-3x`

(Just think of it as `6-3`, but remember that in the actual expression, `6` is smaller because it is a negative).