Simplifying Algebraic Expressions: (8x - 5) + (-2x + 7)
This article will guide you through simplifying the algebraic expression (8x - 5) + (-2x + 7).
Understanding the Basics
Before we start simplifying, let's understand a few key concepts:
- Like Terms: Terms with the same variable and exponent are considered like terms. For example, 8x and -2x are like terms.
- Combining Like Terms: We can combine like terms by adding or subtracting their coefficients.
Simplifying the Expression
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Remove the parentheses: Since we are adding the two expressions, the parentheses do not change the order of operations. We can simply rewrite the expression as:
8x - 5 - 2x + 7
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Identify Like Terms: We have two sets of like terms:
- 8x and -2x
- -5 and 7
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Combine Like Terms:
- 8x - 2x = 6x
- -5 + 7 = 2
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Write the Simplified Expression:
- 6x + 2
Conclusion
Therefore, the simplified form of the expression (8x - 5) + (-2x + 7) is 6x + 2. Remember to always look for like terms and combine them to simplify algebraic expressions.