I'm not sure if this is the right place to ask but it seemed

Underage. It's the latter. The variables aren't being added or subtracted so they would share the same coefficient because they are being multiplied which is 4.

>>17502150
Not underage. Just a petty argument.

Explain this to me in "dumb terms", I still don't get it. If what you say is true, why does the 2a get any authority for being multiplied than the b. Obviously 4a * b is different to 2a * 2b

If it was in fact what you say, shouldn't it be set out like 2(2a) * b?
Because essentially that's whats happening.

>>17502146
4ab
You calculate within {[()]} first, then outside.

>>17502162
Yeah it's the same because you're literally multiplying everything. The parenthesis make no difference in your problem. Honestly plug in two different numbers for a and b in your original problem them test out the same numbers in your 2 different forms of the problem and see which one actually equals the first problem. It's the latter.

>>17502169
Oh.. Fuckin hell mate
This is the explanation ive been looking for. I understand it now, this is what I meant by "dumb terms please." All i got was "youre retarded"

Thanks anon, I understand now... Finally.