# Thread: Trying to help son with simplifying expressions

1. ## Trying to help son with simplifying expressions

Please help it's been so long since i did this i have no idea how to work it out!!! My son needs to simplify the following:

4(x+5)+3(x+3) =

3(w+3)+4(w-2) =

6(d+3)+6(d-5) =

if anyone can explain to me how to work these out i would be very grateful.

My guess at 1. was 7(x+8) but that is a wild guess and nothing else!!

Thanks
Carrieh

2. Hello, CarrieH!

Simplify: . $4(x+5)+3(x+3)$

We must "distribute" (multiply through by) the numbers in front of the parentheses.

$\text{For example,}\;\begin{array}{ccccc}4(x+5)\text{ means:} & (4)(x) + (4)(5) \;=\;4x + 20 \\
3(x+3)\text{ means:} & (3)(x) + (3)(3) \:=\:3x + 9
\end{array}$

Then: . $\underbrace{4(x+5)} + \underbrace{3(x+3)}$
. . . . $=\;\overbrace{4x + 20}\; +\; \overbrace{3x + 9}$ . . . now combine "like" terms

. . . . $= \;\underbrace{4x + 3x} + \underbrace{20 + 9}$
. . . . $=\quad\; 7x\quad +\quad 29$

Follow the same procedure for the other problems.
(I hope all this sounds somewhat familiar.)

3. thank you soooo much!! That explains it beautifully we are now getting stuck in to the rest of the questions.