High School

Consider this equation:

\[ 7.8 + 2(0.75m + 0.4) = -6.4m + 4(0.5m - 0.8) \]

Follow the steps to simplify the left side of the equation by using the distributive property and combining like terms.

1. Distribute the 2:
\[ 7.8 + 1.5m + 0.8 \]

2. Combine like terms:
\[ 8.6 + 1.5m \]

Use the same steps to simplify the right side of the equation. What would it simplify to?

\[ \square \]

Answer :

We start with the expression

[tex]$$
-6.4m + 4(0.5m - 0.8).
$$[/tex]

Step 1: Distribute the 4

Multiply 4 by each term inside the parentheses:

[tex]$$
4(0.5m) = 2.0m \quad \text{and} \quad 4(-0.8) = -3.2.
$$[/tex]

So, after distribution, the expression becomes

[tex]$$
-6.4m + 2.0m - 3.2.
$$[/tex]

Step 2: Combine Like Terms

Combine the terms with [tex]$m$[/tex]:

[tex]$$
-6.4m + 2.0m = -4.4m.
$$[/tex]

This gives us the simplified expression:

[tex]$$
-4.4m - 3.2.
$$[/tex]

Thus, the simplified right side of the equation is

[tex]$$\boxed{-4.4m - 3.2}.$$[/tex]