Simplify by combining like terms: x + x + 3 - 10x

Question

this is all I have for my question simplify combining like terms: x + x + 3 - 10x

Answer 1

Anthony, let's look at this backward. When we want to know what 5(15) is, we can break it up into 5(10 + 5) = 5(10) + 5(5).

 

Anytime we have two numbers multiplied by the same thing, we can add or subtract those numbers and multiply once.

 

Anthony + Anthony = 2 Anthonies, right?

 

2 Anthonies + 3 Anthonies = 5 Anthonies

 

2 Anthonies + 3 Davids, though, can't be added. It just stays 2 Anthonies + 3 Davids.

 

So, let's look at your problem....

 

x + x - 10x = -8x, but we can't add the 3 because it's not an x.

 

Our answer is -8x + 3

 

 

Answer 2

terms are any items separated by plus or minus signs

in the above problem there are four different terms

the question is asking you to group the terms that are similar(like) together

 

there are 3 "x" terms: x +x and -10x  (each of the x's has a 1 in front of it)

   if you combine these together you get:  +2x-10x    which then combines further to -8x

 

the only constant(containig only a number) term you have is the +3

 

so your final answer would be

 

    -8x+3

 

Hope this helps!