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To simplify the expression b^2 - 5b - 5, we need to combine like terms and simplify any terms that we can. Here's how we can do it step by step:
Step 1: Rearrange the terms in the expression to group the b terms together.
b^2 - 5b - 5
Step 2: Combine like terms. In this case, we have two terms with b: b^2 and -5b.
b^2 - 5b - 5
Step 3: We can't simplify b^2 any further, so we move on to the b terms.
b^2 - 5b - 5
Step 4: Since we have a negative coefficient of -5 in front of b, we can factor out a -1 to simplify the terms.
b^2 - 5b - 5
= -1(b^2 - 5b) - 5
Step 5: Now, we have a common factor of b in the terms inside the parentheses, so we can factor out b.
-1(b^2 - 5b) - 5
= -1b(b - 5) - 5
So, the simplified expression for b^2 - 5b - 5 is -1b(b - 5) - 5.