a – 2 [ -a – 3 ( -a – 4 ( -a + 1 ) + 2 ) + 3 ] + 4


Step Expression Explanation
1 x – (x + (x – 1)) Start with the original expression provided.
2 x – (x + x – 1) Remove the innermost parentheses to simplify the expression within the outer parentheses.
3 x – x – x + 1 Distribute the negative sign from the outer parentheses across each term inside it. This changes the signs of each term within the parentheses.
4 -x + 1 Combine like terms: x – x – x equals -x for the terms involving ‘x’, and the constant term remains as +1.

Step Expression Explanation
1 3x + 2(2x – 5) – 4(3x – 1) Start with the original expression provided.
2 3x + 4x – 10 – 12x + 4 Distribute the constants into each set of parentheses: 2 * 2x = 4x, 2 * -5 = -10, -4 * 3x = -12x, and -4 * -1 = 4.
3 (3x + 4x – 12x) + (-10 + 4) Group like terms together for easier simplification. Separate the terms involving ‘x’ from the constant terms.
4 -5x – 6 Combine like terms: 3x + 4x – 12x = -5x for the terms involving ‘x’, and -10 + 4 = -6 for the constant terms.

Step Expression Explanation
1 2(3x – 5) + 4(2x + 1) – 3(5x – 2) Original expression
2 6x – 10 + 8x + 4 – 15x + 6 Distribute the constants: 2 * 3x – 2 * 5 + 4 * 2x + 4 * 1 – 3 * 5x – 3 * (-2)
3 (6x + 8x – 15x) + (-10 + 4 + 6) Group like terms and simplify within parentheses
4 -1x + 0 Combine like terms: 6x + 8x – 15x = -1x and -10 + 4 + 6 = 0
5 -1x Simplify the expression: -1x + 0 = -1x

Step Expression Explanation
1 2x – (3x + 2(4 – x) – 2) + 3 Start with the original expression
2 2x – (3x + 8 – 2x – 2) + 3 Distribute the constant 2 into the parentheses: 2 * 4 – 2 * x = 8 – 2x
3 2x – (3x + 6) + 3 Combine 8 and -2 within the parentheses: 8 – 2 = 6
4 2x – 3x – 6 + 3 Remove the parentheses and distribute -1: -3x + 6 = -3x – 6
5 -1x – 3 Combine like terms: 2x – 3x = -1x and -6 + 3 = -3

Step Expression Explanation
1 x – 2[-x – 2(x – 1) + 1] + 3 Start with the original expression provided.
2 x – 2[-x – 2x + 2 + 1] + 3 Remove the innermost parentheses by distributing -2 into (x – 1) to get -2x + 2.
3 x – 2[-3x + 3] + 3 Combine like terms within the brackets to simplify it to -3x + 3.
4 x + 6x – 6 + 3 Distribute the -2 across each term inside the brackets to get 6x – 6.
5 7x – 3 Combine all like terms to simplify the expression to 7x – 3.

Step Expression Explanation
1 x – 3[2x – 1 – 2(x – 1) + 1] + 2[3x – 2(x + 1) + 2] Start with the original expression provided.
2 x – 3[2x – 1 – 2x + 2 + 1] + 2[3x – 2x – 2 + 2] Remove the innermost parentheses by distributing -2 into (x – 1) and (x + 1) to get -2x + 2 and -2x – 2.
3 x – 3[0 + 2] + 2[x + 0] Combine like terms within each set of brackets to simplify them to 0 and x.
4 x – 3[2] + 2[x] Simplify the terms within the brackets to 2 and x.
5 x – 6 + 2x Distribute the -3 and 2 across each term inside the brackets to get -6 and 2x.
6 3x – 6 Combine all like terms to simplify the expression to 3x – 6.

Simplifying the Expression Step-by-Step

Original Expression

a – 2 [ -a – 3 ( -a – 4 ( -a + 1 ) + 2 ) + 3 ] + 4

Step 1: Distribute the -4 inside the innermost parentheses

No change needed for the innermost parentheses -a + 1.

Expression remains: a – 2 [ -a – 3 ( -a – 4 ( -a + 1 ) + 2 ) + 3 ] + 4

Step 2: Combine terms inside the next set of parentheses

Combine -a with -4(-a) and 1 with 2 inside the parentheses.

New expression: a – 2 [ -a – 3 ( 3a – 2 ) + 3 ] + 4

Step 3: Distribute the -3 inside the next set of parentheses

Multiply each term inside the parentheses 3a – 2 by -3.

New expression: a – 2 [ -a – 9a + 6 + 3 ] + 4

Step 4: Combine like terms inside the square brackets

Combine -a with -9a and 6 with 3 inside the square brackets.

New expression: a – 2 [ -10a + 9 ] + 4

Step 5: Distribute the -2 inside the square brackets

Multiply each term inside the square brackets -10a + 9 by -2.

New expression: a + 20a – 18 + 4

Step 6: Combine all like terms

Combine a with 20a and -18 with 4.

Final expression: 21a – 14