Simplifying Polynomial Expressions
This article will guide you through the process of simplifying the polynomial expression (-4x + 4x³ + 7) + (3x³ - 9 - 3x).
Understanding the Process
Simplifying a polynomial expression involves combining like terms. Like terms are terms that have the same variable and the same exponent.
For example, 4x³ and 3x³ are like terms, while 4x³ and -4x are not.
Step-by-Step Solution
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Remove parentheses: Since we are adding the two polynomials, the parentheses don't affect the order of operations. We can rewrite the expression as:
-4x + 4x³ + 7 + 3x³ - 9 - 3x
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Identify like terms: Now, let's group the like terms together:
(4x³ + 3x³) + (-4x - 3x) + (7 - 9)
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Combine like terms: Add the coefficients of each group of like terms:
7x³ - 7x - 2
Final Simplified Expression
Therefore, the simplified form of the polynomial expression (-4x + 4x³ + 7) + (3x³ - 9 - 3x) is 7x³ - 7x - 2.