How do you combine like terms in (5x2+4)−(3x+7)+(2x2−1)?

Question

Reagan Blair · Accepted Answer

Like terms are defined as terms with the same variables that are raised to the same power.
For example, the terms ax and $b x^{2}$ are NOT like terms because the coefficients a and b have variables (x and $x^{2}$ , respectively) that are not raised to the same power.
In the expression $(5 x^{2} + 4) - (3 x + 7) + (2 x^{2} - 1)$ , the like terms are grouped as follows:
$5 x^{2} and 2 x^{2}$
-3x (this is negative because the subtraction sign is "distributed" to the terms inside of the parentheses)
4, -7, -1 (the reason for why it's -7 is the same reason for why -3x is negative)
Add the terms in the groups up...
$5 x^{2} + 2 x^{2} = 7 x^{2}$
$- 3 x$
$4 - 7 - 1 = - 4$
Now you have the simplified expression: $7 x^{2} - 3 x - 4$

How do you combine like terms in (5x^{2}+4)-(3x+7)+(2x^{2}-1)?

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