If x = -3 and y = -4, what does the expression 5x - 2y equal? — Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB)

If $x = -3$ and $y = -4$ , what does the expression $5x - 2y$ equal?

-7

Substituting the given values into the expression yields

5(-3) - 2(-4)

. Multiplying the terms results in

-15 - (-8)

, which simplifies to

-15 + 8

. Adding these numbers correctly produces

-7

Substitute

x = -3

and

y = -4

into the algebraic expression.

5(-3) - 2(-4)

Variable substitution replaces each variable with its given numerical value using parentheses.

Multiply the terms according to the order of operations.

-15 - (-8)

Multiplication is performed before subtraction:

5 \times -3 = -15

and

2 \times -4 = -8

Simplify the double negative and add the integers.

-15 + 8 = -7

Subtracting a negative number is equivalent to adding its positive counterpart.

Evaluating Algebraic Expressions

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