How do you combine like terms in #(2+ 4p ^ { 2} - 4p ^ { 4} ) - ( 3p ^ { 4} + 7p ^ { 2} - 7)#?

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Answer 1 · 2017-08-24T13:54:23

See a solution process below:

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

#2 + 4color(red)(p^2) - 4color(blue)(p^4) - 3color(blue)(p^4) - 7color(red)(p^2) + 7#

Next, group like terms:

#-4color(blue)(p^4) - 3color(blue)(p^4) + 4color(red)(p^2) - 7color(red)(p^2) + 2 + 7#

Now, combine like terms:

#(-4 - 3)color(blue)(p^4) + (4 - 7)color(red)(p^2) + (2 + 7)#

#-7color(blue)(p^4) + (-3)color(red)(p^2) + 9#

#-7color(blue)(p^4) - 3color(red)(p^2) + 9#