If a = 7, what is the value of the expression 2(a + 8)?

Since a = 7, we need to plug in 7 for a.

2(7 + 8)

To solve for this, we need to use the distributive property. The distributive property allows us to multiply any number/variable outside of the parenthesis by all inside numbers/variables within the parenthesis.

It should look like this:

2(7) + 2(8).

Solve for each product.

2 x 7 = 14
2 x 8 = 16

We are now left with 14 + 16

14 + 16 = 30

30 is the value of the expression.

I hope this helps!