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 ws 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