Simplify x2 + x + 3 – 4x – 4x2 – 10 by combining like terms.

Question

I need help 

Answer 1

x² + x + 3 - 4x -4x² - 10

 

"Like terms" are terms that contain the same variables raised to the same power, such as x².  Only the numerical coefficients are different (3x², -5x², etc.).  The first step is to group the like terms.  I've added parentheses to make it clear, but the parentheses are not required:

 

(x² - 4x²) + (x - 4x) + (3 -10)

 

Here x² and -4x² are like terms, x and -4x are like terms, and 3 and -10 are like terms.  Next simplify by adding or subtracting the like terms:

 

x² - 4x² = -3x²

x - 4x = -3x

3 - 10 = -7

 

x² + x + 3 - 4x -4x² - 10 =  (x² - 4x²) + (x - 4x) + (3 -10) = -3x² - 3x - 7

Answer 2

x² + x + 3 – 4x – 4x² – 10 

 

Re-writing the expression so that like terms are grouped, yields

 

(x² - 4x²) + (x-4x) +(3-10)

 

Simplifying the like terms , the final expression is

 

-3x² -3x -7