How do you combine like terms in #(2w ^ { 2} - 5w - 7) - ( 4w ^ { 2} + 8+ 3w )#?

1 Answer
May 25, 2017

Like terms have the same variable power (so the #w^2# terms combine, the #w# terms combine, and the terms without any #w#s combine).

So, if we distribute the parenthesis,

#(2w ^ { 2} - 5w - 7) - ( 4w ^ { 2} + 8+ 3w )#
#=2w ^ { 2} - 5w - 7 - 4w ^ { 2}- 8- 3w #
#=-2w ^ { 2} - 8w - 15#