need help asap struggling to understand pre-algebra

[asmith]

Back again to seek knowledge on how to translate/evaluate the following: Don't have a clue how to rewrite this or evaluate it. My online teacher doesn't realize that its not my fault I was never required to take algebra and my fellow classmates have some knowledge thru work or someone that can help them. My situation I have neither of those tools to help me. Under algebra concepts how these expressions/equations called?

1. -(-8m) – (-7m + 2)



2. -5 ÷ m2 – 2(m – 2), for m = 1

 

[Deleted member 4993]

Back again to seek knowledge on how to translate/evaluate the following: Don't have a clue how to rewrite this or evaluate it. My online teacher doesn't realize that its not my fault I was never required to take algebra and my fellow classmates have some knowledge thru work or someone that can help them. My situation I have neither of those tools to help me. Under algebra concepts how these expressions/equations called?

1. -(-8m) – (-7m + 2)



2. -5 ÷ m² – 2(m – 2), for m = 1

I modified your second expression - I suppose that is what you meant.

These are expressions. These are not "equation" - because there is no "equal to" sign.

You are asked to evaluate the expressions for the given value of the "variable".

You need to replace "m" in each expression by "1" (given value) - and simplify.

A helpful website for review:

http://www.purplemath.com/modules/index.htm

Did you not know the prerequisite of this course?

Why are you taking this class if you are not "ready"?

 

[HallsofIvy]

You have "m= 1" only for the second expression. Does it apply only to that, so that you should have a specific number as answer to it, but an expression in m for the first?

In any case, what you need is the 'order of operations' rule. One way to remember it is "Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally" which means "do calculations in parentheses before combining with other parts, do Exponents before any other calculations, do Multiplications and Divisions before Additions and Subtractions.

You have, first, -(-8m) – (-7m + 2) do you should do the (implied) multiplication by -1 first: -(-8)= 8 and then subtract. Of course, to subtract, you 'change the sign and add'. Changing the sign on "-7m+ 2" gives "7m- 2" so your problem reduces to 8m+ 7m- 2.

The second problem is "-5 ÷ m2 – 2(m – 2), for m = 1". Did you mean "-5 ÷ m^2 – 2(m – 2)"? That is, the first m is squared not multiplied by 2? Because you are given a value for m, I recommend you go ahead and replace m with 1 to make this an arithmetic problem: "-5 ÷ 1^2 – 2(1 – 2)". What is 1^2? What is 5 divided by that? What is 1- 2? What is 2 times that?