Question

How do you simplify `8x-6+x-1`?

Answer 1

It is 9x-7.

Explanation:

The rule is that the numbers goes with numbers and the letters goes with the letters. So first of all you can reorder them as
`8x+x-6-1`. The part with the numbers is easy (only watch out the sign) so you have `8x+x-7`. For the letter you have simply to add the numbers in front of the letters. In one case you have the number `8` (for `8x`) in the other case it seems you have nothing, but when you have nothing in reality it is like having 1 (for `x`).
So it is `8x+1x-7=9x-7`.

Answer 2

9x - 7

Explanation:

Simplify by `color(blue)"collecting like terms"`

`color(blue)"like terms"" are terms which have the same variable (letter) in them"`

Example: 6x and 4x are like terms as they both have an x in them.

To collect them (simplify) we add/subtract their `color(red)"coefficients"` the numbers in front of them.

so 6x + 4x = 10x and 6x - 4x = 2x

Note that 4x and `2x^2` are NOT like terms

as `x^2" means " x xx x` which is not the same as just x itself.

Using this on the question.

8x - 6 + x - 1 = 8x + x - 6 -1 = 9x - 7

Note the coefficient of x is 1, that is x = 1x