How do you combine like terms in #(8+ 2x + 3x ^ { 2} + 6x ^ { 3} ) + ( 8- 2x + 3x ^ { 2} - 6x ^ { 3} )#?

1 Answer
May 6, 2017

See a solution process below:

Explanation:

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

#8 + 2x + 3x^2 + 6x^3 + 8 - 2x + 3x^2 - 6x^3#

Next, group like terms:

#6x^3 - 6x^3 + 3x^2 + 3x^2 + 2x - 2x + 8 + 8#

Now, combine like terms:

#(6 - 6)x^3 + (3 + 3)x^2 + (2 - 2)x + (8 + 8)#

#0x^3 + 6x^2 + 0x + 16#

#6x^2 + 16#