How do you simplify -3(a+5)+9? Algebra Expressions, Equations, and Functions Variable Expressions 1 Answer Neefgi Mar 21, 2018 -3a-6 Explanation: -3(a+5)+9 (-3a-15)+9 color(blue)(" Distributive property: "-3*a and -3*5) -3a-15+9 color(blue)(" Remove parentheses to make it more readable") -3a-6 color(blue)(" Add like terms: " -15+9=6) Answer link Related questions How do you write the variable expression for: a quotient of 2 and the sum of a number and 3 ? What are variables? What are variable expressions? How do you write variable expressions? How do you evaluate variable expressions? How do you simplify the expression 3x-x+4? How do you write a quotient of a number and 6 as an expression? How do you evaluate the expression 2x+1 for x=1? How do you write a product of a number and 2 as an expression? How do you write 5 less than 2 times a number as a variable expression? See all questions in Variable Expressions Impact of this question 1810 views around the world You can reuse this answer Creative Commons License