document.write( "Question 187560: I was instructed to \"multiply as required and collect terms\" I am really not sure what it means to collect terms.
\n" ); document.write( "(x–4)*(2x^2+4)+(x+4)*(x^3–1)–(x^2–x–1) \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #140576 by vleith(2983) $\"\"$ $\"About$

You can put this solution on YOUR website!
I assume you understand the 'multiply' this part. Basically use the same rules you know from arithmetic (distribution, rules of order, etc) to expand all the terms.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Collecting terms means to group like terms and simplify. SO you use assoications and commutation to 'gather up' all the constants (numbers), all the terms with just a single x in them, all the terms with x^2, etc. Once you group them like that, then just add/subtract to simplify\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "[(x–4)*(2x^2+4)] + [(x+4)*(x^3–1)] – (x^2–x–1) expand (added [] for effect)
\n" ); document.write( " $\"2x%5E3+%2B4x+-+8x%5E2+-+16+%2B+x%5E4-x+%2B+4x%5E3+-1+-+x%5E2+%2Bx+%2B+1\"$ group
\n" ); document.write( " $\"x%5E4+%2B+2x%5E3+%2B+4x%5E3+-+8x%5E2+-+x%5E2+%2B+4x+-x+%2Bx+-16+-1+-1\"$ simplify
\n" ); document.write( " $\"x%5E4+%2B+6x%5E3+-9x%5E2+%2B4x+-18\"$ \n" ); document.write( "

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