How do you simplify the expression #5m - 2 + 8 - m#?

1 Answer
Sep 9, 2015

4m + 6

Explanation:

In algebra, terms are separated by + and - signs.
You can only add and subtract like terms, ie. terms with exactly the same variables.

In this expression, the like terms are 5m and -m so we add them together to get 4m.
The constant terms are -2 and +8 so we add them together to get 6.
This leaves us with 4m + 6.
These are now unlike terms so we cannot simplify any further.