How do you combine like terms in #(5x ^ { 2} - 8x + 1) + ( 2x ^ { 2} - 4x - 11)#?

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Answer 1 · 2017-05-19T18:07:05

See a solution process below:

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

#5x^2 - 8x + 1 + 2x^2 - 4x - 11#

Next, group like terms:

#5x^2 + 2x^2 - 8x - 4x + 1 - 11#

Now, combine like terms:

#(5 + 2)x^2 + (-8 - 4)x + (1 - 11)#

#7x^2 + (-12)x + (-10)#

#7x^2 - 12x - 10#