Question

Find the difference (m - 3) - (-m + 12)

Answer 1

Whenever there is a negative sign in from of some terms in parenthesis, we negate all the terms inside it.

+ becomes -

- becomes +

Thus, we can simplify the expression as:

$\begin{gathered} (m-3)-(-m+12) \\ =(m-3)+m-12 \end{gathered}$

The parenthesis around 'm - 3' isn't required.

$m-3+m-12$

Now, we fully simplify it by adding up the m's [variables] and the numbers.

Thus, we have:

$\begin{gathered} m+m-3-12 \\ 2m-15 \end{gathered}$

The fully simplified form:

$2m-15$