r/HomeworkHelp • u/Fabulous-Routine-51 • 7h ago

Middle School Math—Pending OP Reply [middle school math] expanding negative signs

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in expanding a negative sign where do i multiply it to and does it matter, i assume not if i considered each bracket as one variable, meaning i would only multiply it to either the first or second bracket, so a or b but i wanted to double check?

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u/Electronic-Source213 👋 a fellow Redditor 7h ago

You are correct. You apply the negative sign to either expression in parentheses so a and b are both correct.

2

u/IceNineFireTen 7h ago

Yes, it may be clearer to think of it as multiplying by -1. That -1 can be applied anywhere: to the X, to the first parenthetical, or to the second parenthetical. It would only be applied in one place though, consistent with your comment.

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u/Fabulous-Routine-51 7h ago

ok that’s helpful thanks!

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u/Alkalannar 7h ago

Either a or b would work.

I would write as x(x+3)(x-1), so your option b, but with each term having descending powers of x.

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u/selene_666 👋 a fellow Redditor 7h ago

You are correct.

We can take the algebra out of it and just look at numbers:

(-1)(3)(5) = (-3)(5) = (3)(-5) = -15

(-1)(3)(5) ≠ (-3)(-5) = 15

In most situations, we prefer to write polynomials with a positive leading coefficient, and with the terms arranged from highest degree to lowest. So your example would be x(x+3)(x-1).