is this correct?
problem = (1/8x^2 - 1/4x - 3/8) + ( -1/2x^2 - 1/4x - 1/2)

my answer is = 17.5x^2 - 1/2x - 7/8

Question

is this correct?
problem => (1/8x^2 - 1/4x - 3/8) + ( -1/2x^2 - 1/4x - 1/2)

my answer is => 17.5x^2 - 1/2x - 7/8

anonymous · Answer

Check your first term

anonymous · Answer

should it be -17.5 is that what ur asking?

anonymous · Answer

Nope

anonymous · Answer

Everything other than the first term is correct.
1/8 - 4/8 = -3/8

anonymous · Answer

$$\frac{1}{8}-\frac{1}{2}$$
Common denominator is 8
$$\frac{1}{8}-\frac{1*4}{2*4}$$

anonymous · Answer

i am lost then what are the steps? tonight, has not been a math noght (smiling)

anonymous · Answer

and what @Calcmathlete  got... :)

anonymous · Answer

lol we just posted it... everything else is corrected just ignore the variable for a second and focus on the fractions... and work them like your working regular numbers and then plug back in your variables

anonymous · Answer

$$(\frac{1}{8}x^2 - \frac{1}{4}x - \frac{3}{8}) + ( -\frac{1}{2}x^2 - \frac{1}{4}x - \frac{1}{2}) $$
Okay so.. -1/4-1/4 = -2/4 and 
-3/8-1/2
=$$-\frac{3}{8}-\frac{1*4}{2*4}$$
=$$-\frac{3}{8}-\frac{4}{8}$$
=$$-\frac{7}{8}$$

anonymous · Answer

boy am i way off..

anonymous · Answer

Do you understand where you went wrong @fuzzyspawn  though?

anonymous · Answer

y did the calculator give me the numbers i put down?

anonymous · Answer

i wont be using the calculator anymore i will go back to long hand.

anonymous · Answer

I was using the polinomial calculator from online someone reccommended

anonymous · Answer

polynomial

anonymous · Answer

Hmm, I don't trust my calculator sometimes with fractions... did you use a lot of brackets because some calculators require more than others. Try putting it in like this and let me know what you get (1/8)-(1/2)

anonymous · Answer

No... it might cost you to loose time on exams, test and quizzes.

anonymous · Answer

Oh... hmm, well computer's do have some faults so Idk

anonymous · Answer

$$(1/8x{}^{\wedge}2-1/4x-3/8)+(-1/2x{}^{\wedge}2-1/4x-1/2)=-\frac{3 x^2}{8}-\frac{x}{2}-\frac{7}{8}  $$

anonymous · Answer

But that should only be used as a check have you tried wolfram alpha? I in most instances don't go wrong there.

anonymous · Answer

i havent heard about that one site, is it good?

anonymous · Answer

Yes it is...

anonymous · Answer

http://www.wolframalpha.com/

anonymous · Answer

cool then i will try it I appreciate your help! getting  (math headache) gonna get back later thanks

anonymous · Answer

Okay, no problemo!