Can somebody help me with the question below..

Question

anonymous · Answer

simplify $$17s + 3t  - 9 - 5t + 9 - 12s$$

amistre64 · Answer

combine like terms ...

psymon · Answer

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amistre64 · Answer

for instance;  if you have 17 s's and you lose 12 of them, how many do you have left?

anonymous · Answer

@amistre64 5 's

amistre64 · Answer

thats correct, and as psymon drew out .... its just a matter of working like terns

anonymous · Answer

So when I answer them all what do I do next? @amistre64

amistre64 · Answer

well, i find that the best thing to do when you get to the end of a problem .... is to move on to another one

anonymous · Answer

$$17s -12s = 5s$$

$$3t - 5t = -2t$$

$$-9 + 9= 0$$

@amistre64

amistre64 · Answer

now recombine the terms:

$$5s-2t+0$$

amistre64 · Answer

the +0 of course is redundant and can be ignored

anonymous · Answer

@amistre64 Okay.

anonymous · Answer

@amistre64 $$5s - 2t = 3?$$

what letter is it though?

amistre64 · Answer

if you have 5 apples and 3 oranges .... thats as far as you can go.

anonymous · Answer

@amistre64 Ok thank you.. now what?

amistre64 · Answer

5 apples, plus 3 oranges; does not equate to anything else.

5s - 2t  is just that,  its 5 s's  and negative 2 t's

anonymous · Answer

@amistre64 the answer is 5s - 2t TY!

amistre64 · Answer

correct, and your welcome :)

anonymous · Answer

@Psymon I wish I could give you a medal too