How do you combine like terms in 2x - 4[ 2- 3( x + 4y ) - 2]?

1 Answer
Mar 3, 2018

14x+48y

Explanation:


Like terms are terms that contain the same variables raised to the same power. Only the numerical coefficients are different.

In an expression, only like terms can be combined. We combine like terms to shorten and simplify algebraic expressions, so we can work with them more easily.

2x−4[2−3(x+4y)−2]

Group the like terms inside the parantheses, so that we get:

2x−4[-3(x+4y)+2-2]

2x−4[-3(x+4y)]

2x-12(x+4y)

Apply the distributive property a(b+c)=ab+ac to expand:

=2x+12x+48y

Add the similar terms 2x+12x=14x to get:

=14x+48y

That's it!