To solve this equation, we will first simplify the expression on the left-hand side by combining like terms within each set of parentheses and then across the two sets:
(5a - 3b) - (4 + 5a - 3b)
First, simplify inside each set of parentheses—there's nothing to simplify within the first set, but we can combine like terms within the second set:
(5a - 3b) - (4 + 5a - 3b)
Now, let's distribute the negative sign before the second set of parentheses across each term within that set:
5a - 3b - 4 - 5a + 3b
Next, combine like terms:
(5a - 5a) + (-3b + 3b) - 4
The a and b terms cancel each other out because they are additive inverses:
0a + 0b - 4
So now our equation is:
-4 = -4
Both sides of the equation are equal, which means the original equation is an identity and is true for any values of a and b. The solution is not a specific value but instead, an infinite set of values: any values for a and b will satisfy this identity.
