(9x^5+5x^2+8x)-(3x^5-5x^2+6)
Would someone please help me understand how to subtract this

Question

(9x^5+5x^2+8x)-(3x^5-5x^2+6)
Would someone please help me understand how to subtract this

ganeshie8 · Answer

start by grouping the "like terms"

ganeshie8 · Answer

"like terms" are the ones with same exponent for the variable
the variable is "x" here

britbrat1997 · Answer

i understand that part, but should i subtract them?
like 9x^5-3x^5?

ganeshie8 · Answer

Exactly! they are the like terms with exponent 5

britbrat1997 · Answer

every time i do it, it tells me ive got the wrong answer.
so would this be right then?
$$6x^5+0x^2+8x+6$$

ganeshie8 · Answer

wrong

ganeshie8 · Answer

everything is correct except the x^2 term

ganeshie8 · Answer

how did you get 0 for the x^2 term ?

britbrat1997 · Answer

$$5x^2-5x^2$$

ganeshie8 · Answer

ahh that is a common mistake

britbrat1997 · Answer

nvm i read it wrong its 10x^2

ganeshie8 · Answer

looks good :)

jaelenecastro1998 · Answer

(9x^5+5x^2+8x)-(3x^5-5x^2+6)
9x^5+5x^2+8x-3x^5+5x^2-6
9x^5-3x^5+5x^2+5x^2+8x-6

britbrat1997 · Answer

$$6x^5+10x^2+8x+6$$
This is the correct answer, right?

ganeshie8 · Answer

Looks perfect!

britbrat1997 · Answer

i put it into my homework (its online) and it said its incorrect.
Could i just be putting it in wrong?

ganeshie8 · Answer

Oh there is a mistake

ganeshie8 · Answer

that constant is not +6

ganeshie8 · Answer

double check...

ganeshie8 · Answer

see the mistake ?

britbrat1997 · Answer

$$(2x^5-9x^4-5x^2-3x)-(-6x^5-5x^3+10x^2-12x)$$
okay, how about this one then..
$$-4x^5-9x^4-15x^2-15x$$

britbrat1997 · Answer

$$8x^5$$

freckles · Answer

term(s) are missing and there is some incorrect addition/subtraction

ganeshie8 · Answer

yeah its easy to do mistake
you can avoid them by working it step by step w/o rushing

ganeshie8 · Answer

1) group like terms
2) simplify

ganeshie8 · Answer

i don't see the grouping step in your work

britbrat1997 · Answer

$$8x^5-9x^4-15x^2+9x$$

ganeshie8 · Answer

again, i can't tell you what you're doing wrong w/o looking at your steps

ganeshie8 · Answer

show me how you grouped the terms instead of just giving your final answer..

britbrat1997 · Answer

$$2x^5-(-6x^5)$$
$$-9x^4$$
$$(-5x^2)-10x^2$$
$$(-3x)-(-12x)$$
=$$8x^5-9x^4-5x^3-15x^2+9x$$

ganeshie8 · Answer

still wrong, i think it would be easy to expand first before grouping

ganeshie8 · Answer

$(2x^5-9x^4-5x^2-3x)-(-6x^5-5x^3+10x^2-12x)$

$=2x^5-9x^4-5x^2-3x+6x^5+5x^3-10x^2+12x$

right ?

britbrat1997 · Answer

yes

ganeshie8 · Answer

now group the like terms