Rewrite $- (x + 5)$ in a way that removes the parentheses. How does the minus sign affect both $x$ and $5$?

After you remove all parentheses, group the $x$ terms together and the constant numbers together, then combine them.

In Desmos, type y = 4(2x - 3) - (x + 5) on one line. This creates the graph of the original expression.

On separate lines, type y = 9x - 7, y = 7x - 17, y = 7x + 17, and y = 8x - 20. You will now see several lines on the same coordinate plane.

Look for the answer-choice line that lies exactly on top of the graph of y = 4(2x - 3) - (x + 5) for all values of $x$. The matching line represents the equivalent expression.

Start with the expression:

Distribute the 4 to both $2x$ and $-3$:

• $4 \cdot 2x = 8x$
• $4 \cdot (-3) = -12$

So $4(2x - 3)$ becomes $8x - 12$, and the whole expression is now:

The expression $- (x + 5)$ means you are subtracting both $x$ and $5$.

This is the same as multiplying by $-1$:

So the full expression becomes:

Now combine the $x$ terms and the constant terms separately:

• $8x - x = 7x$
• $-12 - 5 = -17$

So the simplified, equivalent expression is:

This matches answer choice B.