Evaluate the expression a - 6b when a = -3 and b = 5.
Understand the Problem
The question is asking us to evaluate the expression a - 6b using the given values for a and b. We will substitute a = -3 and b = 5 into the expression and then perform the calculation.
Answer
The expression evaluates to \( -33 \).
Answer for screen readers
The final answer is ( -33 ).
Steps to Solve
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Substitute the values into the expression We start by substituting the given values ( a = -3 ) and ( b = 5 ) into the expression ( a - 6b ).
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Write the expression with substituted values The expression becomes: $$ -3 - 6(5) $$
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Calculate the multiplication Next, calculate ( 6(5) ): $$ 6 \times 5 = 30 $$
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Perform the subtraction Now substitute back: $$ -3 - 30 $$
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Final calculation Calculate ( -3 - 30 ): $$ -3 - 30 = -33 $$
The final answer is ( -33 ).
More Information
The expression ( a - 6b ) shows how to perform operations with negative numbers and multiplication. Evaluating such expressions helps in understanding basic algebra.
Tips
- Forgetting to multiply ( b ) by 6 before subtracting from ( a ). Ensure all operations follow the correct order.
- Miscalculating the subtraction with negative numbers. Always double-check the signs.
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