How do you solve this problem: 5 (x3) - (-20)

First step: multiply the 5 (x3) and it will give you x15 or most commonly written as 15x. you should now have 15x - (-20).

Second step: since you cannot subtract - 20 from 15x because it has a variable, the final answer is just 15x - (-20), or 15x+20.