document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=611055>Question 611055</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Could you please explain to me how to simplify equations like 3b-5-10b-4 or 6g+5-3g-7? I don't understand having to change some of the symbols and merely moving others. Thank you for any help you can give! </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #384761 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=radh><B>radh(108)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-09.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=radh><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=radh><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=384761\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> I'm going to solve the first problem.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<p><IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=3b-5-10b-4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"3b-5-10b-4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "You see how 3b and -10b both have b? We can add them to get -7b. We can also do the same for numbers (real numbers), so -5-4=-9. The simplified version would be -7b-9!\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<p>The trick is to look for similarity. Remember that you can't add/subtract expressions with different variables. (eg. 5x-7y). If you have any other questions, feel free to contact me. </SPAN>\n" );
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