x-(-5+x) = x + 5 - x = 5 Could someone please help me understand? In my head the answer is x-(-5+x) = x - + 5 - x = - 5 Why does the minus sign disappear before the plus sign?
Looking at just -(-5 + x);
The negative sign in front of the parentheses change all the signs inside: so you end with +5 - x
x - (-5 + x) is the same as
x + -(-5 + x) which is
x + 5 - x