How do you combine like terms in #(7x ^ { 4} - x + 3) - ( 3x ^ { 4} + 2x ^ { 2} - 5x - 7)#?

1 Answer
Apr 19, 2017

See the entire solution process below:

Explanation:

First, remove all of the terms from parenthesis. Be careful to handle the signs of each individual term correctly:

#7x^4 - x + 3 - 3x^4 - 2x^2 + 5x + 7#

Next, group like terms:

#7x^4 - 3x^4 - 2x^2 + 5x - x + 3 + 7#

Now, combine like terms:

#7x^4 - 3x^4 - 2x^2 + 5x - 1x + 3 + 7#

#(7 - 3)x^4 - 2x^2 + (5 - 1)x + (3 + 7)#

#4x^4 - 2x^2 + 4x + 10#