Simplify 5(x - 2) - 3(x + 1). What is the coefficient of x?

Correct answer to question 65 (Mathematics Knowledge): 2

Method

Expanding gives 5x - 10 - 3x - 3, and the x terms combine to 2x. The whole expression simplifies to 2x - 13. Note the minus sign applies to both terms in the second bracket.