simplify??? help

[mszaemama]

what does it mean when is says to simplify -6-(-4)=
is it to solve which is -10 or is it to write out in absolute value 6-4=
please help

 

[troublemaker676]

When it says to simplify, it simply means -6+4, because minus a negative equals plus a positive.

 

[mszaemama]

so it means...

so it means to just write out the equation not solve it???
l-3l would be 3 right?!?

 

[Denis]

Re: so it means...

so it means to just write out the equation not solve it??? l-3l would be 3 right?!?

Right.
Simplify really means "go as far as you can...";
-6 - (-4)
= -6 + 4
= -2
There was no equation to solve.
An equation would look like: x - 1 = -6 - (-4)

 

[mszaemama]

thanks for you help

thanks everyone think I might have it

 

[tkhunny]

Keep in mind that "simplify" doesn't always mean "make it simpler looking".

-(6-4) = -2 -- That is both simplified and simpler looking.

1/sqrt(2) = sqrt(2)/2 -- Looks about the same, but MANY teachers and texts consider it "simplified".

11/2 = 5½ -- I think this one went the wrong direction. This "simplification" actually made it look worse and made it less useful.

It's sort of a judgment call, sometimes.