Okay, let’s try this. When you see something in parentheses, that means that you need to multiply the thing outside the parentheses (here, “-5”) by whatever’s inside the parentheses (here, “a -2b”). So, first you’d multiply -5 x a, which would be -5a, since multiplying a negative and a positive would have a negative result. Next, you’d multiply -5 by the rest of the contents of the parentheses, “-2b”, and -5 x -2b would be 10b, since multiplying two negatives together cancels both negatives out and the result will always be positive. You then just add together those results: -5a + 10b. Does that make any better sense?

This question is saying you have a deficit of 10n (-10n) and you are going to go down one more (-n) so you are now down -11n. Remember there is a 1 in front of that second -n, so it’s just like saying -10-1= -11.

Now on the second problem you are distributing that -5 first to a positive a. A negative times a positive is a negative so the first term is -5a.

For the second term you are distributing that -5 to a NEGATIVE 2b. A negative times a negative equals a positive so the second term is +10b

Put them together and you have -5a+10b.

Okay.

-10n and -1n are like terms, correct? So you would add, or combine them, and get -11n.

Remember that a plain n is equal to one n.

When you mulitiply 2 negatives, you get a positive. Dont worry why, just know that always. So -5 x a = -5a. -5 x -2b= 10b.

So, the answer is -5a+10b.

the -5 carries over to the a, giving you -5a.

next, -5(-2b) is a +10b. because when you multiply 2 negatives together, you get a positive.

every time you multiply by a negative it reverses the direction.

Think about facing North. If a negative sign hits you, you reverse and face South. If another negative sign hits you, you reverse again and face North. Another negative sign and back to South.

If you start with (5)(2b) and use one negative sign, the answer will be negative. (-5)(2b)=-10b.

But if you use a second negative sign (-5)(-2b), it puts you back to a positive sign. +10b

-10n-n = -10n-1n = -11n

-5(a-2b) = (-5)(a) – (-5)(2b)

= -5a – (-10b)

= -5a + 10b

a minus times a minus is a positive.

substracting a minus is the same as adding a positive.

ok, -5(a-2b)

-5 times a= -5a

-5 times -2b= +10b

so all together you get -5a+10b