Question

How do you combine like terms in `7x ^ { 4} - 2x ^ { 2} + 5x + 4- ( x ^ { 5} - 2x ^ { 4} - 6x ^ { 3} + 4x )`?

Answer 1

`-x^5 + 9x^4 + 6x^3 - 2x^2 + x + 4`

Explanation:

Eliminate the parenthesis remembering to multiple each term in the parenthesis by `-1` and then combine like terms:

`7x^4 - 2x^2 + 5x + 4 - x^5 + 2x^4 + 6x^3 - 4x`

`-x^5 + 7x^4 + 2x^4 + 6x^3 - 2x^2 + 5x - 4x + 4`

`-x^5 + (7 + 2)x^4 + 6x^3 - 2x^2 + (5-4)x + 4`

`-x^5 + 9x^4 + 6x^3 - 2x^2 + x + 4`