Question

What is the correct compressed instruction for the following expression?

(27$x$ - 5) + (12$x$ - 17)

• A. 35$x$ -17
• B. 39$x$ - 22
• C. 35$x$ - 22
• D. 39$x$ - 17

Answer 1

The correct option is B 39$x$ - 22

Here, we use only two properties—associative property and commutative property—to compress this instruction.

Using (27$x$ - 5) + (12$x$ - 17), we have,
27$x$ + (-5) + 12$x$ + (-17)
= 27$x$ + 12$x$ + {(-5) + (-17)}
= 39$x$ - 22

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.