-2(-11w + 17) + 2 = -5w + 4 -9w−2(−11w+17)+2=−5w+4−9w
First, distribute -2−2 to -11w−11w and 1717. You do this by multiplying the numbers in the parentheses by the number on the outside. Let's make equations for this to make it easier:
-2 * -11w−2⋅−11w = 22w22w because two negatives create a positive.
-2 * 17 = -34−2⋅17=−34 because a negative times a positive will equal a negative.
Rewrite your equation since you have distributed:
22w - 34 + 2 = -5w + 4 -9w22w−34+2=−5w+4−9w
Now, combine like terms. What this means is that you'll be adding similar numbers and variables.
On the left side:
-34 + 2 = -32−34+2=−32
On the right side:
-5w - 9w = -14w−5w−9w=−14w because two negatives added together continue to be negative. Think about a number line.
Now, rewrite your equation again:
22w - 32 = -14w + 422w−32=−14w+4
Now, get rid of the lowest value variable. This is -14w−14w. To cancel it out, add -14w−14w to both sides. You should now have:
36w - 32 = 436w−32=4
Now, add 3232 to both sides to cancel out -32−32. You should now have:
36w = 3636w=36
Divide by 3636 to isolate for ww:
w = 1w=1
To verify that this is right, I'll be plugging in this value:
-2(-11(1) + 17) + 2 = -5(1) + 4 -9(1)−2(−11(1)+17)+2=−5(1)+4−9(1)
22 - 34 + 2 = -5 + 4 - 922−34+2=−5+4−9
-10 = -14 + 4−10=−14+4
-10 = -10−10=−10
