Simplifying Polynomial Expressions
This article will guide you through the process of simplifying the following polynomial expression:
(8x² + 3x - 4) + (-2x² + 8x)
Understanding the Steps
To simplify this expression, we'll follow these steps:
- Identify Like Terms: Look for terms with the same variable and exponent.
- Combine Like Terms: Add or subtract the coefficients of like terms.
Simplifying the Expression
Let's apply the steps to our expression:
1. Identify Like Terms:
- x² terms: 8x² and -2x²
- x terms: 3x and 8x
- Constant terms: -4
2. Combine Like Terms:
- x² terms: 8x² + (-2x²) = 6x²
- x terms: 3x + 8x = 11x
- Constant terms: -4 (remains unchanged)
Final Result
By combining like terms, we obtain the simplified expression:
(8x² + 3x - 4) + (-2x² + 8x) = 6x² + 11x - 4
Conclusion
The simplified form of the given polynomial expression is 6x² + 11x - 4. Remember to always identify and combine like terms to simplify expressions effectively.