What is the next step in this process? A. Simplify the values within the parentheses. B. Apply the distributive law to each set of parentheses. C. The expression is fully simplified. D. Remove the greatest common factor within each set of parentheses.

To determine the next step in the process, we need to consider the context of simplifying an expression. Here’s a breakdown of the options: A. **Simplify the values within the parentheses.** - This step is typically done first if there are any calculations or simplifications that can be made inside the parentheses. B. **Apply the distributive law to each set of parentheses.** - This step is usually performed after simplifying the values within the parentheses, especially if there are no further simplifications possible. C. **The expression is fully simplified.** - This would be the final step, indicating that no further simplification is possible. D. **Remove the greatest common factor within each set of parentheses.** - This step is often done before applying the distributive law, as it can simplify the expression further. Given these options, the most logical next step would be: 1. If there are values that can be simplified within the parentheses, then **A** would be the next step. 2. If the values are already simplified, then **D** could be the next step to factor out the greatest common factor. 3. If the parentheses are already simplified and factored, then **B** would be the next step to apply the distributive law. Without additional context about the current state of the expression, it's difficult to definitively choose the next step. However, if we assume that the expression is not yet fully simplified, the most common next step would be **A**: Simplify the values within the parentheses.