How do you combine like terms in #(9x ^ { 8} - 6x ^ { 4} + 6x ^ { 2} + 5) + ( 2x ^ { 7} + 4x ^ { 4} - 6x ) + ( - 4x ^ { 4} + 6x - 4)#?

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Answer 1 · 2017-04-07T01:01:36

See the entire solution process below:

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

#9x^8 - 6x^4 + 6x^2 + 5 + 2x^7 + 4x^4 - 6x - 4x^4 + 6x - 4#

Next, group like terms:

#9x^8 + 2x^7 - 6x^4 + 4x^4 - 4x^4 + 6x^2 - 6x + 6x + 5 - 4#

Now, combine like terms:

#9x^8 + 2x^7 + (-6 + 4 - 4)x^4 + 6x^2 + (-6 + 6)x + (5 - 4)#

#9x^8 + 2x^7 + (-6)x^4 + 6x^2 + 0x + 1#

#9x^8 + 2x^7 - 6x^4 + 6x^2 + 1#