Matt is asked to simplify x + x2 + x3 + 3x. Here is what he does:
x + x2 + x3 + 3x = 4x + x2 + x3
= 4x3 + x3
= 5x3
Did Matt do this problem correctly or incorrectly? If he did it correctly, then what math laws did he follow? If he did it incorrectly, then what math laws did he break?

Question

Matt is asked to simplify x + x2 + x3 + 3x. Here is what he does:
x + x2 + x3 + 3x = 4x + x2 + x3
= 4x3 + x3
= 5x3
Did Matt do this problem correctly or incorrectly? If he did it correctly, then what math laws did he follow? If he did it incorrectly, then what math laws did he break?

dan815 · Answer

he added x^2 and x
can you do that?

dan815 · Answer

is x*x + x = 3x?