Question

Simplify each of the following algebraic expressions by removing grouping symbols.
−a − [a + {a + b − 2a − (a − 2b)} − b]

Answer 1

First we have to remove the small brackets, or parentheses, ( ), then the curly brackets,{ }, and then the square brackets, [ ].
Therefore, we have
- a - [a + {a + b - 2a - (a - 2b)} - b]
= - a - [a + {a + b - 2a - a + 2b} - b]
= - a - [a + {- 2a + 3b} - b]
= - a - [a - 2a + 3b - b]
= - a - [- a + 2b]
= - a + a - 2b
= - 2b