How do you combine like terms in #(4+ 4i ) - ( 9+ 17i )#?

1 Answer
Apr 4, 2017

#-5 -13i#

Explanation:

Before combining like terms, you must remove the brackets. To do this, you must distribute the number or the sign (in this case #-#) across the numbers in the bracket.

So, after doing this, you would have

# 4+4i -9-17i#

Then it is just basic combining like things (apples to apples). Add up all the variables #i#

#+4i - 17i = -13i#

Then the numbers

#4 - 9 = -5#

Therefore,

#-5 -13i#