Question

write an expression equivalent to 0.5(-14a - 22).
0.5(-14a - 22) = \boxed{}a - \boxed{?}

Explanation:

Step1: Distribute 0.5 to -14a

To distribute 0.5 to \(-14a\), we multiply \(0.5\) and \(-14a\).
\(0.5\times(-14a)= -7a\)

Step2: Distribute 0.5 to -22

To distribute 0.5 to \(-22\), we multiply \(0.5\) and \(-22\).
\(0.5\times(-22)= -11\)
But in the given expression \(0.5(-14a - 22)=\square a-\square\), when we distribute \(0.5\) to \(-22\) we get \(- 11\), and the sign in front of the second term in the right - hand side is minus, so the second box should be \(11\) (because \(-11=-(11)\)).

Answer:

\(0.5(-14a - 22)=-7a - 11\), so the first box is \(-7\) and the second box is \(11\).