What is the answer to 5x 3x?

Answer 1

In 3x - 5x - 8 we can combine the 3x - 5x to get -2x and finish with this:

3x - 5x - 8 = -2x - 8

We can also divide by -2 to say the same thing another way, so let's do that. Remember that to divide two quantities (the -2x and the -8) by another number, we have to divide that number into each term. Let's do that.

-2x - 8 = (-2x / -2) + (-8 / -2)

Don't be confused by the "+" sign in the middle. We preserved the sign of the 8, which is "-" here, and that sign is inside the parens with the 8.

-2x - 8 = (-2x / -2) + (-8 / -2) = -2 (x + 4)

We've discovered two ways to write the answer, and both say the same thing (even though they look a bit different).