Intermediate Algebra, Chapter 1, 1.4, Section 1.4, Problem 30

Simplify: $-8x - 12 + 3x - 5x + 9$.


$
\begin{equation}
\begin{aligned}


-8x - 12 + 3x - 5x + 9 =& -8x + 3x - 5x - 12 + 9
&& \text{Commutative Property}
\\
=& (-8 + 3 - 5)x - 12 + 9
&& \text{Distributive Property}
\\
=& -10x - 3
&& \text{Combine like terms}

\end{aligned}
\end{equation}
$