How do you combine like terms in #4a - ( 2a - 5) + 2#?

1 Answer
Jim G.
Dec 3, 2016

#2a+7#

Explanation:

We have to #color(blue)"distribute"# the bracket and then #color(blue)"collect like terms"#

distribute means multiply the terms inside the bracket by the number multiplying the bracket. In this case - 1

#rArr4acolor(red)(-1)(2a-5)+2#

#=4a-2a+5+2#

collect like terms.

#color(magenta)(4a-2a)+color(blue)(5+2)=2a+7#

Like terms are terms which contain the same variable, in this case a and the constant terms. To collect the terms, add/subtract the coefficients, that is the value in front of a.

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