Question

How do you combine like terms in `(3k ^ { 4} - 7k + 7k ^ { 3} ) + ( 3+ 7k ^ { 2} - 4k ^ { 4}) + (7k^3 - 2k ^ { 2} )`?

Answer 1

I got: `-1k^4+14k^3+5k^2+7k+3`

Explanation:

You first get rid of the brackets and write:

`3k^4-7k+7k^3+3+7k^2-4k^4+7k^3-2k^2=`

now you collect all the terms that have the same exponents:

`(3k^4-4k^4)+(7k^3+7k^3)+(7k^2-2k^2)+7k+3=`

now you can add and subtract the numbers of similar terms:

`=-1k^4+14k^3+5k^2+7k+3`

Remember:
1) Like terms are the one with the same literal part (i.e., letter and exponent);
2) If you had a NEGATIVE sign outside a bracket all the signs inside should have been changed.