Question

What is the standard form of a polynomial `(4x^2 + 3x - 1) + (3x^2 - 5x - 8)`?

Answer 1

See a solution process below:

Explanation:

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

`4color(red)(x^2) + 3color(blue)(x) - 1 + 3color(red)(x^2) - 5color(blue)(x) - 8`

Next, group like terms:

`4color(red)(x^2) + 3color(red)(x^2) + 3color(blue)(x) - 5color(blue)(x) - 1 - 8`

Now, combine like terms:

`(4 + 3)color(red)(x^2) + (3 - 5)color(blue)(x) + (-1 - 8)`

`1color(red)(x^2) + (-2)color(blue)(x) + (-7)`

`color(red)(x^2) - 2color(blue)(x) - 7`