Question

How do you simplify `26+14y+30+17y`?

Answer 1

`31y + 56`

Explanation:

Ok, so first let’s look at it this way:

You can’t add `1+1y`. You can add `1+1` or `1y+1y`.

So first we would add the numbers WITHOUT any variables.

`26+30=56`

Then, we would add the numbers WITH variables.

`14y+17y=31y`

So, that means that the answer is

`31y + 56`

(Since you can’t add `31y` and `56` together, you would just leave it like that)

Answer 2

Combine like terms to get `31y+56`

Explanation:

Anytime we're simplifying, it helps to combine like terms. These will be constant terms (`color(blue)(blue)`) and variable terms (`color(red)(red)`), respectively.

`color(blue)(26+30)+color(red)(14y+17y)`

`26+30=56` (These are our constants)
`14y+17y=31y` (These are our variable terms)

Therefore, our simplified expression is `31y+56`