Simplify the Expression: 3m-14n-(7m-3n) Step by Step

Question

$3m-14n-(7m-3n)=\text{?}$

00:00 Solve

00:06 Note, when multiplying a negative by a positive, the result is always negative

00:10 Note, when multiplying a negative by a negative, the result is always positive

00:18 Let's gather terms

00:29 And this is the solution to the question

We begin by addressing the parenthesis first:

Remember that:

When we multiply a positive number by a negative number the result will be negative.

When we multiply a negative number by a negative number the result will be positive.

Thus we obtain the following equation:

$3m-14n-7m+3n=$

Next we join the m coefficients:

$3m-7m=-4m$

We then join the n coefficients: $-14n+3n=-11n$

Finally we obtain:

$-4m-11n$

$-4m-11n$