How do you combine like terms in #(- x ^ { 3} + 8x - 7x ^ { 2} ) + ( x ^ { 2} - 4x - 5x ^ { 4} )#?

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Answer 1 · 2017-03-11T23:03:21

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:

#-x^3 + 8x - 7x^2 + x^2 - 4x - 5x^4#

Next, group like terms:

#-5x^4 - x^3 + x^2 - 7x^2 + 8x - 4x#

Now, combine like terms:

#-5x^4 - x^3 + 1x^2 - 7x^2 + 8x - 4x#

#-5x^4 - x^3 + (1 - 7)x^2 + (8 - 4)x#

#-5x^4 - x^3 - 6x^2 + 4x#