Combine terms: 12a + 26b -4b – 16a.

Answer 1

In order to combine like terms, you need to combine the terms that correlate with each other.

For example, the terms 12a and 26b are not like terms because they have different variables.

12a + 26b - 4b - 16a

In order to solve, lets first combine the a terms

12a + 26b - 4b - 16a

You can write this is one of two ways:

12a + (−16a) OR 12a - 16a

Both will equal to − 4a

Now, lets combine the b terms

26b − 4b = 22b

Therefore, our answer will be −4a + 22b