How do you combine like terms in #(5.1x ^ { 4} - 4.2x - 6.8x ^ { 2} ) - ( 6.9x ^ { 2} + 1.8x ^ { 4} + 0.7x )#?

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Answer 1 · 2017-05-06T02:38:05

See a solution process below:

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

#5.1x^4 - 4.2x - 6.8x^2 - 6.9x^2 - 1.8x^4 - 0.7x#

Next, group like terms:

#5.1x^4 - 1.8x^4 - 6.8x^2 - 6.9x^2 - 0.7x - 4.2x#

Now, combine like terms:

#(5.1 - 1.8)x^4 + (-6.8 - 6.9)x^2 + (-0.7 - 4.2)x#

#3.3x^4 + (-13.7)x^2 + (-4.9)x#

#3.3x^4 - 13.7x^2 - 4.9x#