SOLUTION: I have a question I hope someone can answer in doing polynomials. Can you add -3Xsquared plus XYsquared. I think you can't because the first number doesn't have a Y. I wrote out

Algebra ->  Polynomials-and-rational-expressions -> SOLUTION: I have a question I hope someone can answer in doing polynomials. Can you add -3Xsquared plus XYsquared. I think you can't because the first number doesn't have a Y. I wrote out       Log On


   

Question 227684: I have a question I hope someone can answer in doing polynomials. Can you add -3Xsquared plus XYsquared. I think you can't because the first number doesn't have a Y. I wrote out the word squared as I couldn't type the 2 above the x or y. Thank you for the help.
Found 2 solutions by Alan3354, jim_thompson5910:
Answer by Alan3354(69443) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
No, they can't be added.
-3x%5E2+%2B+xy%5E2 = x%2A%28-3x+%2B+y%5E2%29
It can be factored, but it can't be reduced to less than 2 terms.

Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
No you cannot combine the terms -3x%5E2 and xy%5E2 since they are not like terms. However, you can factor out an '-x' from -3x%5E2%2Bxy%5E2 to get -x%283x-y%5E2%29