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

1 Answer
Aug 24, 2017

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