How do you combine like terms in #(3n ^ { 3} + 4n ^ { 2} - 7) + ( 9n ^ { 3} - 2n + 5)#?

1 Answer
May 28, 2017

See a solution process below:

Explanation:

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

#3n^3 + 4n^2 - 7 + 9n^3 - 2n + 5#

Next, group like terms:

#3n^3 + 9n^3 + 4n^2 - 2n - 7 + 5#

Now, combine like terms:

#(3 + 9)n^3 + 4n^2 - 2n + (-7 + 5)#

#12n^3 + 4n^2 - 2n + (-2)#

#12n^3 + 4n^2 - 2n - 2#