Question

How do you combine like terms in `(2x ^ { 2} + 9x - 5) + ( 5x ^ { 2} + 7x + 13) - ( 7x ^ { 2} - 18)`?

Answer 1

16x + 13 is the answer, explanation provides a more detailed answer to your question.

Explanation:

Start by distributing the signs outside of the parentheses. When you do this, the equation looks like this:

`2x^2 + 9x - 5 + 5x^2 + 7x + 13 - 7x^2 +18`

To make this a little easier on your eyes, move like terms (terms with the same variable to the same exponent) next to each other.

`2x^2 + 5x^2 - 7x^2 + 9x + 7x - 5 + 13 + 18`

Now combine the like terms. The `x^2` terms cancel out, but the rest can be simplified.

`16x + 26`