(2x³ + x² − 4x) − (9x³ − 3x²) To remove the parentheses: 1. If the parentheses has a + or nothing at all before it, just erase the parentheses and the + if there is one before it; otherwise just erase the parentheses. 2. If the parentheses has a - before it, change every sign inside it and erase the parentheses and the - sign: The first set of parentheses has nothing before it so 1 applies and we simply erase the parentheses and get: 2x³ + x² − 4x − (9x³ − 3x²) The remaining set of parentheses has a - before it so we change the signs inside the parentheses and erase the parentheses and the - sign before it: 2x³ + x² − 4x − 9x³ + 3x² Now we collect like terms: The terms 2x³ and -9x³ combine to give -7x³. The terms +x² and +3x² combine to give +4x². So we end up with: -7x³ + 4x² - 4x Choice B Edwin