Simplify 18 - 2[x + (x - 5)].

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This is when its best to have the Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally, or PEMDAS, down. It actually means Powers Exponents Multiplication Division Addition Subtraction. You add [x+(x-5)] first (all together) to get [2x-5], which then you do the distributive property with a NEGATIVE 2. So, -2[2x-5]is -2(2x)-2(-5), or -4x+10 Now you add 18 to that, so 18-4x+10 Now it's 28-4x or, if you want, it can also be 4(7-x) Hope this helps!