How do you simplify (-6x + 2y - 3) + (2x - 4y - 7)?

1 Answer
Nov 10, 2015
  • Open up the parentheses
  • Sort x's, y's and constants
  • Add the x's, y's and constants together

Explanation:

Since both of the sets of parentheses are positive, you can remove them. Keep in mind that when you have negative parentheses, for example -(a-b), you have to change the signs inside the parentheses, so you get -a -b.
This won't be a problem here, since we only have positive parentheses.

(-6x + 2y - 3) + (2x - 4y - 7)
= -6x + 2y - 3 + 2x - 4y - 7

Let's sort...

-6x + 2x +2y - 4y - 3 - 7

Add x's together, y's together and constants together...

-4x -2y -10

And that's your answer!

You can eventually factorize -2 out of the expression so you have -2(2x + y + 5)

but you don't have to.