Stuck on this question! Can someone please help? #2 + 7x + 3 − 5x − 1 = "______"?# Thanks!

2 Answers
May 4, 2018

#4 + 2x# is the final expression. Here's why:

Explanation:

#2 + 7x + 3 - 5x -1 = ?#

Start by combining like terms in the order that they appear. Let's break them into variables and integers.

Integers first:

#2# + #3# - #1# = #4#

Then, variables:

#7x# - #5x# = #2x#

Now, add what you've combined:

#4 + 2x#

May 4, 2018

Assuming that you just want this simplified since there is nothing on the right of the #=# sign, the answer is:

#2x + 4#

Explanation:

The easiest way to simplify this problem is to combine like terms. First we'll combine all the #x# terms:

#2 + color(red)(7x) + 3 color(white)"x"color(red)( - 5x) - 1 = ?#

#2 + color(red)(2x) + 3 -1#

Now combine all of the real numbers:

#color(blue)2 + 2x + color(blue)3 color(white)x color(blue)(-1)#

#2x + color(blue)4#

The simplest form of this problem is #2x + 4#.