How do you combine like terms in #2( a + 4) + 3a#?

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Answer 1 · 2018-04-07T21:30:03

Here's how I did it:

#2(a+4) + 3a#

First, we need to distribute (multiply) the #2# #(a+4)#:
#2 * a = 2a#

#2 * 4 = 8#

Let's put this back into the expression:
#2a + 8 + 3a#

To combine like terms, let's first highlight the like terms:
#color(red)(2a) + 8 + color(red)(3a)#

Now we just add #2a# and #3a# and write the final expression:
#5a + 8#

Hope this helps!