Ask your own question, for FREE!
Mathematics 13 Online
OpenStudy (anonymous):

how do i simplify this equation?

OpenStudy (anonymous):

Where's the equation?

OpenStudy (anonymous):

-2a+1/3b-7a-b

OpenStudy (anonymous):

Collect like terms first

OpenStudy (anonymous):

oh ok thanks

OpenStudy (anonymous):

what do i do with the 1/3b and - b

OpenStudy (anonymous):

What did you end up with?

OpenStudy (anonymous):

-9a and then idk what to do

OpenStudy (anonymous):

Well you can't do that cause the a terms are in diff places. One is in the numerator and the other is in the denominator

OpenStudy (anonymous):

so how do i work it?

OpenStudy (anonymous):

(-2a+1)/(3b-7a-b) = (-2a+1)/(2b-7a)

OpenStudy (anonymous):

oohhh

OpenStudy (anonymous):

The have to be in the same place to collect the like terms

OpenStudy (anonymous):

i see thanks

OpenStudy (anonymous):

No problem :3

OpenStudy (anonymous):

i still dont get it its supposed to be one third b not 3b

OpenStudy (anonymous):

If its one third b then this is how your expression should look like:\[2a + (\frac{1}{3}b) -7a-b\]

OpenStudy (anonymous):

Ohhhh that's what he meant ^

OpenStudy (anonymous):

You have to combine like terms and you have two terms here which are variables a and b. So you combine terms with a and you combine terms with b. The way you combine these variables which are like terms is by adding the coefficients which are the numbers in front of the variables

OpenStudy (anonymous):

Yeah I think so

OpenStudy (anonymous):

\[2a -7a = -5a\]

OpenStudy (anonymous):

It's just simple math where you group the ones with the same variables together.

OpenStudy (anonymous):

\[\frac{1}{3} b - \frac{3}{3}b = -\frac{2}{3}b \]

OpenStudy (anonymous):

So the final answer is : \[-5a - \frac{2}{3}b \]

OpenStudy (anonymous):

its -2a

OpenStudy (anonymous):

thanks you helped alot !

OpenStudy (anonymous):

oh okay -2a - 7a = - 9a and you're welcome!

Can't find your answer? Make a FREE account and ask your own questions, OR help others and earn volunteer hours!

Join our real-time social learning platform and learn together with your friends!
Latest Questions
laylasnii13: Can i dm anybody to vent having a rough time ??
8 hours ago 1 Reply 0 Medals
kaelynw: starting to draw a hand
7 hours ago 15 Replies 2 Medals
Twaylor: Rate it :D (Took 2 days)
8 hours ago 7 Replies 0 Medals
XShawtyX: Art, Short Writing Assignment: Imagining Landscapes
7 hours ago 4 Replies 1 Medal
XShawtyX: Chemistry, Help ud83dude4fud83cudffe
1 day ago 13 Replies 1 Medal
kaelynw: tried a lil smt, the arm is off but i like the other stuff
1 day ago 27 Replies 3 Medals
kaelynw: art igg
1 day ago 14 Replies 1 Medal
Can't find your answer? Make a FREE account and ask your own questions, OR help others and earn volunteer hours!

Join our real-time social learning platform and learn together with your friends!