How do you combine like terms in #8s ^ { 2} - 2s ^ { 2} + 3s ^ { 2} - 6s ^ { 2} + 2s ^ { 2} - 2s ^ { 2}#?

1 Answer
Dec 11, 2016

The answer is #3s^2#.

Explanation:

#8s^2-2s^2+3s^2-6s^2+2s^2-2s^2#

All of the terms are like terms because they all have the same variable, #"s"^2#.

Cancel the last two terms because they are equal and opposite.

#8s^2-2s^2+3s^2-6s^2+cancel(2s^2)cancel(-2s^2)#

Simplify until you are left with one term.

#8s^2-2s^2+3s^2-6s^2=#

#6s^2+3s^2-6s^2#

Cancel #6s^2# and #-6s^2#.

#cancel(6s^2)+3s^2cancel(-6s^2)#

Answer: #3s^2#.