Simplifying Polynomial Expressions
In mathematics, simplifying polynomial expressions is a fundamental skill. We can combine like terms to make expressions easier to understand and work with. Let's explore how to simplify the following expression:
(16x + 8x^2y - 7xy^2 + 9y) + (5xy^2 + 10x^2y + x - 7y)
Step 1: Identify Like Terms
Like terms are terms that have the same variables and exponents. In our expression, we can group the terms as follows:
- x terms: 16x + x
- x^2y terms: 8x^2y + 10x^2y
- xy^2 terms: -7xy^2 + 5xy^2
- y terms: 9y - 7y
Step 2: Combine Like Terms
Now, we can combine the coefficients of the like terms:
- 16x + x = 17x
- 8x^2y + 10x^2y = 18x^2y
- -7xy^2 + 5xy^2 = -2xy^2
- 9y - 7y = 2y
Step 3: Write the Simplified Expression
Finally, we combine the simplified terms to get the simplified expression:
**(16x + 8x^2y - 7xy^2 + 9y) + (5xy^2 + 10x^2y + x - 7y) = 18x^2y - 2xy^2 + 17x + 2y
Therefore, the simplified form of the given expression is 18x^2y - 2xy^2 + 17x + 2y.