Question

Explain, in your own words, the step-by-step process to simplifying the expression below. Include the simplified answer in your explanation.

(6x2 − 5) − (3x2 + x + 7)

Answer 1

can u tell me what the 6x2 and the 3x2 mean?

Answer 2

is it 6 times 2 and 3 times 2? @Solmyr

Answer 3

I thought it was 6x^2 and 3x^2 ??

Answer 4

yup

Answer 5

distribute the - through the parenthesis.

Answer 6

ok srry @ChelseaSweets i was afk

Answer 7

what is afk ?

Answer 8

whats afk?

Answer 9

away from keyboard

Answer 10

lol....ok

Answer 11

do you know how to distribute the - through the parenthesis ?

Answer 12

sadly no

Answer 13

Oh haha, thats fine dude

Answer 14

im srry to say but i have to be quick with this

Answer 15

ok.....if you just have a sign, like a - or a + with no number by it, the number becomes a 1. So, you have -1(3x^2 + x + 7)...when I say distribute, I mean multiply the -1 by everything in that parenthesis. Can you do that ?

Answer 16

bout to hit the hay for the night

Answer 17

ok so first do i need to work the problem out in the parenthesis then multiply??

Answer 18

6x^2 - 5 - 3x^2 - x - 7 (combine like terms)
3x^2 - x - 12 <---answer

Answer 19

by multiplying by the -1, it changed everything in parenthesis to negatives. That got rid of the parenthesis. Then I just combined like terms. Do you understand ?

Answer 20

ok but just to show the work

6x^2 - 5 - 3x^2 - x - 7
-3 -3
+7 +7
3x^2 - x - 2
multiply -1
3x^2 - x - 12

Answer 21

where are you getting the -2 ?

Answer 22

(6x2 − 5) − (3x2 + x + 7)
ok so multiply everything in the parenthesis by -1
6x^2 - 5 - 3x^2 - x - 7
combine like terms
3x^2 - x - 12

Answer 23

srry i understood it wrong the first time

Answer 24

let me show you about combining like terms...
6x^2 - 3x^2 = 3x^2
there is only on x and it is -, so that is -x
-7 - 5 = - 12
That leaves you with 3x^2 - x - 12

Answer 25

Do you understand how I multiplied the -1 through the parenthesis to get rid of the parenthesis ?

Answer 26

ok i understand now

Answer 27

not sure about the -1 though

Answer 28

6x^2 - 5 - (3x^2 + x + 7)
to get rid of the parenthesis, you have to multiply everything in the parenthesis by a -.....which is the same as a -1.
6x^2 - 5 -1(3x^2 + x + 7)
6x^2 - 5 (-1)3x^2 (-1)x (-1)7
6x^2 - 5 - 3x^2 - x - 7
combine like terms...
3x^2 - x - 12

Does that help ?

Answer 29

yes it does thank you for the help

Answer 30

you are welcome :)