Question

How do you combine like terms in `(2m ^ { 2} - 8m + 2) - ( - 3m ^ { 2} + 5m - 7)`?

Answer 1

`5m^2 - 13m+ 9`

Explanation:

What you would like to do first is eliminate the brackets so that the collection of like terms can begin. As you have a negative sign in front of the second set of bracket, treat that as a `-1` and multiply that by everything in the second set:

`(2m^2 - 8m + 2) - (-3m^2 + 5m - 7)`

becomes

`2m^2 - 8m + 2 + 3m^2 - 5m + 7`

and now you can collect like terms:

`5m^2 - 13m+ 9`