Distributing through parenthesis and combining like terms can be combined into one problem. Order of operations tells us to multiply (distribute) first then add or subtract last (combine like terms). Thus we do each problem in two steps, dis- tribute then combine. Example `5 + 3(2x − 4)`

`5 + 3(2x − 4)`	Distribute 3, multipling each term
`=5+6x−12`	Combine like terms
`=− 7 + 6x`	Solution

Example `3x − 2(4x − 5)`

`3x − 2(4x − 5)`	Distribute − 2, multilpying each term
`=3x−8x+10`	Combine like terms `=3x−8x`
`=− 5x + 10`	Solution

In the previous example we distributed `− 2`, not just `2`. This is because we will always treat subtraction like a negative sign that goes with the number after it. This makes a big difference when we multiply by the `− 5` inside the parenthesis, we now have a positive answer. Following are more involved examples of dis- tributing and combining like terms. Example `2(5x−8)−6(4x+3)`

`2(5x−8)−6(4x+3)`	Distribute `2` into first parenthesis and `− 6` into second
`=10x−16−24x−18`	Combine like terms `10x−24x` and `−16−18`
`=−14x−34`	Solution

Example `4(3x−8)−(2x−7)`

`4(3x−8)−(2x−7) `	Negative (subtract) in middle can be thought of as `− 1`
`=4(3x−8)−1(2x−7) `	Distribute `4` into first parenthesis, `− 1` into second
`=12x−32−2x+7 `	Combine like terms `12x−2x` and `−32+7`
`=10x−25 `	Solution