Question

Hello I have this problem

-4j^2 - 7k + 5j +j^2

i know i have to combine like terms so i combine -4j^2 with j^2 right? but does it just become -4j^2 or -4j^4 ?

Answer 1

think of all j^2 as some object, like an apple

Answer 2

if you have -4 apples and 1 apple, then when you combine all the apples, what do we get? the object itself doesnt change does it ...

Answer 3

So it stays as -4j^2 then?

Answer 4

it stays as j^2 yes

Answer 5

adding like terms doesnt change the term, it just tells you how many of the same term you have

Answer 6

in this case: -4j^2 + j^2 = (-4+1) j^2, if we 'undistribute' the j^2

Answer 7

Okay, so it turns to -3j^2 ?

Answer 8

correct