Evaluate the expression a - 9x when a = -3 and x = 6.
Understand the Problem
The question is asking to evaluate the expression a - 9x given that a = -3 and x = 6. We need to substitute the values of a and x into the expression and perform the calculation.
Answer
The expression evaluates to $-57$.
Answer for screen readers
The final evaluated value of the expression is $-57$.
Steps to Solve
- Substituting the values into the expression
We start by substituting the values for $a$ and $x$ into the expression $a - 9x$. Given $a = -3$ and $x = 6$, the expression becomes:
$$ -3 - 9(6) $$
- Calculating the multiplication
Next, we calculate the multiplication part of the expression:
$$ 9(6) = 54 $$
So the expression now looks like:
$$ -3 - 54 $$
- Performing the final calculation
Now we perform the subtraction:
$$ -3 - 54 = -57 $$
The final evaluated value of the expression is $-57$.
More Information
When evaluating an expression, it's essential to follow the order of operations, which includes performing multiplication before addition or subtraction. This helps ensure accurate results.
Tips
- A common mistake is forgetting to multiply before subtracting. Always remember to handle multiplication first to avoid errors.
- Another mistake could be misapplying the signs. Ensure to keep track of the negative signs during calculation.
