How do you combine like terms in #(b^3+5bc+10c^3) - (12b^3+6bc^2+c^3)#?

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Answer 1 · 2017-06-02T14:26:44

See a solution process below:

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

#b^3 + 5bc + 10c^3 - 12b^3 - 6bc^2 - c^3#

Next, group like terms:

#b^3 - 12b^3 + 5bc - 6bc^2 + 10c^3 - c^3#

Now, combine like terms:

#1b^3 - 12b^3 + 5bc - 6bc^2 + 10c^3 - 1c^3#

#(1 - 12)b^3 + 5bc - 6bc^2 + (10 - 1)c^3#

#-11b^3 + 5bc - 6bc^2 + 9c^3#