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 ?

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 ?

amistre64 · Answer

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

amistre64 · Answer

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 ...

anonymous · Answer

So it stays as -4j^2 then?

amistre64 · Answer

it stays as j^2 yes

amistre64 · Answer

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

amistre64 · Answer

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

anonymous · Answer

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

amistre64 · Answer

correct