Samantha D.

asked • 09/23/12

(3n²-4n+1)-(8n²-4n+17)

combining like terms (subtracting)

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Inactive Tutor answered • 09/23/12

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-5n2-16

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First you distribute the minus sign into the terms in the second set of parenthesis:

3n2-4n+1-8n2+4n-17

Then you group the n's together by power:

3n2-8n2-4n+4n+1-17

Then you combine the terms for each:

(3-8)n2+(-4+4)n+(1-17)

Once you do the addition/subtraction for each term you end up with the answer:

-5n2-16

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09/23/12

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