Question

Simplify each of the following algebraic expressions by removing grouping symbols.
a − [b − {a − (b − 1) + 3a}]

Answer 1

First we have to remove the parentheses, or small brackets, ( ), then the curly brackets, { }, and then the square brackets [ ].
Therefore, we have
a - [b - {a - (b - 1) + 3a}]
= a - [b - {a - b + 1 + 3a}]
= a - [b - {4a - b + 1}]
= a - [b - 4a + b - 1]
= a - [2b - 4a - 1]
= a - 2b + 4a + 1
= 5a - 2b + 1