Question

Add the polynomials.

(82x8+21x2-6)+(18x+7x8-42x2+3)

Answer 1

What is the sum of: 82x^8 + 7x^8 ?

Answer 2

90x^8??

Answer 3

82x^8 + 7x^8 = 89 x^8

Now, do this: 21 x^2 - 42 x^2 = ?

And, then this: -6 + 3 =

Answer 4

21 x^2 - 42 x^2 = ?

Answer 5

-21x^2

Answer 6

Correct

Answer 7

: -6 + 3 =

Answer 8

-3

Answer 9

Correct.

Before we put these together, a question about the problem.

Is there supposed to be an x term in the first expression: (82x8+21x2-6)

The second part has an x term so I am wondering. There does not have to be an x term in the first expression but please check.

Answer 10

no there isn't an x term

Answer 11

Okay.

Putting the like terms together:

82x8 + 7x8 +21x2 - 42x2 + 18x -6 + 3 =

89 x^8 - 21x^2 + 18x - 3 Final Answer - Do you agree?

Answer 12

yes i got the exact same answer thank you so much!

Answer 13

You are welcome.

Note that there is no like term to add to the 18x so it remains "solo."

Answer 14

Quick question, what do i do when the terms are like this: x^9? does that mean its basically 1x^9?

Answer 15

Yes.

Answer 16

You are using the distributive property to add similar terms.

For example $$ x^9 + 2x^9 = (1+2)x^9 = 3x^9$$

Answer 17

Good question :-)

Answer 18

To add (or subtract) polynomials you add (or subtract) their similar terms.

Similar terms are monomials that are exactly alike or that differ only in their numerical coefficients.