# How do you add (2x^2 -11x) + (3x^2 + 11x - 4) ?

Mar 16, 2018

5x^2 -4

#### Explanation:

This looks confusing at first but I'll try to be as through as I can.

When I learned this, I was taught to drop the parentheses to make it easier.

($2 {x}^{2}$ -11x) + ($3 {x}^{2}$ + 11x -4) Drop the parentheses to get:

$2 {x}^{2}$ -11x + $3 {x}^{2}$ + 11x -4

You then put the variables from highest to lowest, as in the variable with the highest power to the smallest number next to the variable or number with no variable.

$3 {x}^{2}$ + $2 {x}^{2}$ +11x -11x -4

$2 {x}^{2}$ and $3 {x}^{2}$ have the same variables because x is to the power of 2 for both variables.

11x cancel out because 11x-11x would equal 0, so you don't have to write 0 or it wouldn't make sense.

You would then add the numbers together to get $5 {x}^{2}$ and you are left with -4

so the full answer is $5 {x}^{2} - 4$

Make sure to always put the variable with the highest power to the left. The variable with the lowest or no power, or number with no power, will go on the right.