College Math Placement Practice Test

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Prepare for your College Math Placement Test with our expert-crafted quiz! Practice with diverse question formats and detailed explanations to enhance your math skills and boost your confidence.

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What is the coefficient of x in the expression 4x - 2(x + 3)?

2
-2
4
-4

The correct answer is: 2

To determine the coefficient of $ x $ in the expression $ 4x - 2(x + 3) $, we begin by simplifying the expression. First, distribute the $-2$ to both $ x $ and $ 3 $ inside the parentheses: \[ -2(x + 3) = -2x - 6 \] Now, substitute this back into the original expression: \[ 4x - 2(x + 3) = 4x - 2x - 6 \] Next, we combine the like terms related to $ x $: \[ 4x - 2x = 2x \] After combining, we can rewrite the expression as: \[ 2x - 6 \] From this expression, it is clear that the coefficient of $ x $ is $ 2 $. Therefore, the correct answer identifies that the coefficient in front of $ x $ is $ 2 $.