maths question!

Question

Simplify the following expression by combining like terms: 4a² - 3a - a² +5a

Answer 1

Hi Em,

Recall that like terms are terms where the variables and their exponents are the same. For example, 4a² and -a² are like terms, so we will add them: (4a²) + (-a²) = 3a². All I did here was add the coefficients together (4 + -1). Same thing for -3a+5a we get 2a because the coefficients -3+5=2.

So, the final answer is 3a²+2a

Hope this helps