7
REMOVING
GROUPING SYMBOLS
The rules for removing parentheses
The relationship of a − b to b − a
The rules for removing parentheses
Parentheses will be preceded either by a plus sign +
a + (b −c + d)
or a minus sign −
a − (b −c + d).
When parentheses are preceded by a plus sign +
simply remove them. Nothing changes.
a + (b −c + d) = a + b − c + d.
When parentheses are preceded by a minus sign −
change the sign of every term within the parentheses.
Change + to − and − to + .
a − (b −c + d) = a − b + c − d.
The sign of b within the parentheses is understood to be + . Therefore upon removing the parentheses, that term becomes −b.
−c within the parentheses becomes +c. And +d becomes −d.
In other words: To subtract a sum, subtract each term of the sum.
a − (b −c + d) = a − b + c − d.
Subtract b. Subtract −c—that is add it. And subtract d.
We can justify those two possibilities with examples from arithmetic because algebra is abstracted—taken from—arithmetic.
For example, here is how we could calculate 256 + 98:
| 256 + 98 | = | 256 + 100 − 2 | |
| = | 356 − 2 | ||
| = | 354. | ||
| That is, | |||
| 256 + (100 − 2) | = | 256 + 100 − 2. | |
| When we remove those parentheses, nothing changes. | |||
| And here is how to calculate 256 − 98: | |||
| 256 − 98 | = | 256 − 100 + 2 | |
| = | 156 + 2 | ||
| = | 158. | ||
| That is, | |||
| 256 − (100 − 2) | = | 256 − 100 + 2. | |
| When we remove those parentheses, the sign of every term within the parentheses changes. |
|||
Problem 1. Remove the parentheses.
a) p + (q −r + s) = p + q − r + s
b) p − (q −r + s) = p − q + r − s
In each of the following problems, remove the parentheses, then simplify
by adding the numbers.
For example,
| (x − 3) − (y − 4) | = | x − 3 − y + 4 |
| = | x − y + 1. | |
The sign preceding (x − 3) is understood to be + . Therefore the signs within those parentheses do not change.
But the sign preceding (y − 4) is minus. Therefore, y changes to −y, and −4 changes to +4.
Finally, it is the style in algebra to write the literal terms, x − y, to the left of the numerical term.
| Problem 2. (x + 2) + (y + 8) | = | x + 2 + y + 8 |
| = | x + y + 10. | |
| Problem 3. (x + 2) − (y + 8) | = | x + 2 − y − 8 |
| = | x − y − 6. | |
| Problem 4. (x − 2) + (y + 8) | = | x − 2 + y + 8 |
| = | x + y + 6. | |
| Problem 5. (x − 2) − (y + 8) | = | x − 2 − y − 8 |
| = | x − y − 10. | |
| Problem 6. (x − 2) − (y − 8) | = | x − 2 − y + 8 |
| = | x − y + 6. | |
| Problem 7. (x − 2) + (y − 8) | = | x − 2 + y − 8 |
| = | x + y − 10. | |
| Problem 8. (a − 2) + (b + 3) − (c − 7) | = | a − 2 + b + 3 − c + 7 |
| = | a + b − c + 8. | |
| Problem 9. (a − 5) − (b + 6) − (c − 9) | = | a − 5 − b − 6 − c + 9 |
| = | a − b − c − 2. | |
| Problem 10. (a + 2) − (b − 3) + (c − 8) − (d + 1) | ||
| = | a + 2 − b + 3 + c − 8 − d − 1 | |
| = | a − b + c − d − 4. | |
Again, when there is a minus sign before parentheses, every sign within them changes. We saw that before in the rule of Lesson 3:
a − (−b) = a + b.
| Problem 11. −(−x + y) | = | x − y. |
| Problem 12. −(x − y) | = | −x + y. |
| Problem 13. −(x + y − 2) | = | −x − y + 2. |
Problem 14. Write the negative of
a − b + c − d.
−a + b − c + d.
Example 1. Placing parentheses. The rules of algebra go both ways. Therefore, since we may remove parentheses, we may also place them. We may write
a − b + c − d
in the following ways:
a − (b − c + d)
(a − b) − (−c + d)
a − (b − c) − d
And so on.
Problem 15. Rewrite each of the following by placing parentheses.
a) −x + y = −(x − y).
b) −x − y = −(x + y)
c) −a + b − c + d = −(a − b + c − d).
d) Place parentheses around b and c:
a − b + c − d = a − (b − c) − d.
Brackets and braces
Brackets [ ] and braces { } have the same function as parentheses. They are all grouping symbols. After parentheses are used, then for clarity we use brackets. After brackets, braces.
Removing brackets or braces will follow the same rules for removing parentheses.
Example 2. a − [b − (c − d + e)]
We will remove all the grouping symbols. We will do it by removing the brackets first. Then we will do it again removing the parentheses first. The student should have the skill to do it either way.
So, upon removing the brackets:
| a − [b − (c − d + e)] | = | a − b + (c − d + e). |
Within the brackets, there are two terms. The first term is b. The second term is −(c − d + e). (See Problem 1c above.) Since the brackets are preceded by − , the sign of each of the two terms changes. The signs within the term (c − d + e) do not change.
Finally, we remove the parentheses, which are preceded by + :
| = | a − b + c − d + e. |
Now let us do this same problem by removing the parentheses first:
| a − [b − (c − d + e)] | = | a − [b − c + d − e] |
| = | a − b + c − d + e. | |
Since the parentheses are preceded by − , every sign within them changes. And since the brackets also are preceded by − , every sign within them changes.
Problem 16.
a) First remove the brackets, then remove the parentheses.
| w + [x − (y + z)] | = | w + x − (y + z) |
| = | w + x − y − z | |
First remove the parentheses, then remove the brackets.
| w + [x − (y + z)] | = | w + [x − y − z)] |
| = | w + x − y − z | |
b) First remove the brackets, then remove the parentheses.
| w − [x + (y − z)] | = | w − x − (y − z) |
| = | w − x − y + z | |
First remove the parentheses, then remove the brackets.
| w − [x + (y − z)] | = | w − [x + y − z] |
| = | w − x − y + z | |
c) First remove the brackets, then remove the parentheses.
| w − [x − (y + z)] | = | w − x + (y + z) |
| = | w − x + y + z | |
First remove the parentheses, then remove the brackets.
| w − [x − (y + z)] | = | w − [x − y − z)] |
| = | w − x + y + z | |
d) First remove the brackets, then remove the parentheses.
| w + [x − (y − z)] | = | w + x − (y − z) |
| = | w + x − y + z | |
First remove the parentheses, then remove the brackets.
| w + [x − (y − z)] | = | w + [x − y + z) [ |
| = | w + x − y + z | |
Problem 17. Remove all the grouping symbols. Simplify as you go by evaluating the numbers. Remove the brackets first.
| a) 5 − [3 − (x − 2)] | = | 5 − 3 + (x − 2) |
| = | 2 + x − 2 | |
| = | x. | |
| b) 5 − [3 − (x + 2)] | = | 5 − 3 + (x + 2) |
| = | 2 + x + 2 | |
| = | x + 4. | |
| c) −5 + [3 − (x − 2)] | = | −5 + 3 − (x − 2) |
| = | −2 − x + 2 | |
| = | −x. | |
| d) 5 − [−3 − (x + 2)] | = | 5 + 3 + (x + 2) |
| = | 8 + x + 2 | |
| = | x + 10. | |
Problem 18.
a) First remove the braces, then the brackets, then the parentheses.
a) Simplify by adding the numbers.
| 10 − {2 + [3 − (x − 5)]} | = | 10 − 2 − [3 − (x − 5)] |
| = | 8 − 3 + (x − 5) | |
| = | 5 + x − 5 | |
| = | x. | |
First remove the parentheses, then the brackets, then the braces.
| 10 − {2 + [3 − (x − 5)]} | = | 10 − {2 + [3 − x + 5]} |
| = | 10 − {2 + 3 − x + 5} | |
| = | 10 − 10 + x | |
| = | x. | |
b) First remove the braces, then the brackets, then the parentheses.
| 8 + {2 − [12 + (x − 2)]} | = | 8 + 2 − [12 + (x − 2)] |
| = | 10 − 12 − (x − 2) | |
| = | −2 − x + 2 | |
| = | −x. | |
First remove the parentheses, then the brackets, then the braces.
| 8 + {2 − [12 + (x − 2)]} | = | 8 + {2 − [12 + x − 2]} |
| = | 8 + {2 − 12 − x + 2} | |
| = | 8 + 2 − 12 − x + 2 | |
| = | −x. | |
Next Lesson: Adding like terms
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