what is the equivalent expression to this expression without parentheses?

Question

35-(3a+14)
help

Answer 1

35 - 3a - 14 = 21 - 3a

distributive property

Answer 2

You HAVE to use parentheses in order to convey that the quantity "3a+14" should be subtracted from 35.
The quantity "3a+14" has its own value depending on what "a" is.

If you remove the parentheses, you would have:

35-3a+14

which says, "take 35 then subtract 3a, then add 14."

This is NOT equivalent to "3a+14" subtracted from 35.

There is no other way to write this expression and still have the same meaning.