Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
catrin williams
"what? how did you work that out?" i ask.
"well, you have to times each number by the number on the outside of the bracket."
"huh?"
"show me the question," he chuckles, leaning over me to see the question.
7(9x-12) + 4(8x-4)
"catrin, that's so simple." he laughs, sitting back up.
"i don't get it though!"
he sighs. "times the seven and the nine x,"
"you can't though because the nine has an x." i say.
"no, just times the numbers and add the x on at the end." he replies.
"so like this?" i ask, writing down the answer; 63x.
"yes, now add the minus after it then times the seven and the twelve."
"okay," i say writing down the rest of the answer.
63x-84
"now add the plus and do the same as you just done for the last bracket."
63x-84 + 32x-16
"now what?" i ask.
"you have to move them around so they will give you the answer. you have to move the thirty two x over and because it's a plus it turns to a minus." alex explains.
"wait what?"
"when you move them, you have to change it. change the side, change the sign."
"so i move the thirty two x to where the minus eighty four is and it turns into minus thirty two x?" i ask.
"exactly, and because the eighty four is a minus it turns into a?"
"plus?"
"you got it!" he says.
i quickly write it down. 63x-32x + 84-16
"so now it's easier, what is the answer?" alex asks.
"uhh," i say, working it out "thirty one x plus sixty eight?"
