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 simplified form of the expression 4x - 2(x + 3)?

2x - 3
2x - 6
6x - 6
4x - 3

The correct answer is: 2x - 6

To simplify the expression 4x - 2(x + 3), start by distributing the -2 across the terms inside the parentheses. When you distribute -2, you multiply it by both x and 3, which results in: -2 * x = -2x -2 * 3 = -6 So, substituting back into the expression gives: 4x - 2x - 6 Now, combine the like terms, which are the terms involving x: 4x - 2x = 2x Putting it all together, the expression simplifies to: 2x - 6 This is why the answer is accurate. The distribution and subsequent combination of like terms demonstrate the necessary steps in simplifying the expression correctly.