(a) \( -5(x-2) \)

Did you know that factoring expressions like \( -5(x-2) \) has roots dating back to ancient civilizations? The Babylonians were among the first to manipulate algebraic concepts, laying down the foundation for everything from modern algebra to the expressions we use today. It's fascinating how these ideas evolved into the mathematical notations we utilize now! When simplifying, remember to be cautious with the negative sign! A common mistake is to forget to distribute it correctly, leading to errors. So when you expand \( -5(x-2) \), make sure each term gets the attention it deserves: you're looking at \( -5x + 10 \). Voila!