College Math Placement Practice Test 2026 - Free College Math Questions and Study Guide

To simplify the expression 4x - 2(x + 3), start by distributing the -2 across the terms inside the parentheses.

When you distribute -2, you multiply it by both x and 3, which results in:

-2 * x = -2x

-2 * 3 = -6

So, substituting back into the expression gives:

4x - 2x - 6

Now, combine the like terms, which are the terms involving x:

4x - 2x = 2x

Putting it all together, the expression simplifies to:

2x - 6

This is why the answer is accurate. The distribution and subsequent combination of like terms demonstrate the necessary steps in simplifying the expression correctly.