Simplifying Polynomial Expressions
In mathematics, simplifying polynomial expressions involves combining like terms and reducing the expression to its simplest form. Let's explore how to simplify the following expression:
(4x + 8x² - 8) + (x² + 7 - 4x)
Step 1: Identify Like Terms
Like terms are terms that have the same variable and exponent. In our expression, we have:
- x² terms: 8x² and x²
- x terms: 4x and -4x
- Constant terms: -8 and 7
Step 2: Combine Like Terms
We can now combine the like terms by adding or subtracting their coefficients:
- x² terms: 8x² + x² = 9x²
- x terms: 4x - 4x = 0x (which simplifies to 0)
- Constant terms: -8 + 7 = -1
Step 3: Write the Simplified Expression
Putting it all together, the simplified form of the expression is:
9x² - 1
Therefore, the simplified form of (4x + 8x² - 8) + (x² + 7 - 4x) is 9x² - 1.