Question

can someone explain: Simplify the expression.

(8 + 7a) + 4? i keep getting 19a. what am i doing wrong?

Answer 1

you added 8 + 7 + 4

Answer 2

you can only add 8 and 14..you cannot touch 7a <---because it has an a

Answer 3

i mean add 8 and 4 not 14

Answer 4

so whenever a letter is involved i don't touch it because it is a variable?

Answer 5

For example
1+2+3(4)=is it 6(4)?
no
it is=3+3(4)

Answer 6

yes @8887

Answer 7

unless another term with the EXACT same letter exists..then you can combine those

Answer 8

For this i give another example
1(2)+3(2)=4(2)