SOLUTION: Please explain this to my math deficient noggin. In this example from the text book, how are the steps of simplification arrived at? Shouldn't 14x^2 be 14x^4? (5x² + 7x - 2) +

Algebra ->  Polynomials-and-rational-expressions -> SOLUTION: Please explain this to my math deficient noggin. In this example from the text book, how are the steps of simplification arrived at? Shouldn't 14x^2 be 14x^4? (5x² + 7x - 2) +       Log On


   

Question 578874: Please explain this to my math deficient noggin. In this example from the text book, how are the steps of simplification arrived at? Shouldn't 14x^2 be 14x^4?
(5x² + 7x - 2) + (9x² - 12x +13) =
(5x² + 9x²) + (7x - 12x) + (-2 + 13) =
14x² - 5x + 11

I don't understand at all how the first line becomes the seconds line, or the third line. Thanks very much.
Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
In the second line, you're grouping like terms. Like terms are the terms that have the same variable and exponent, so for example, 5x%5E2 and 9x%5E2 are like terms because they have the common term x%5E2 between them.


In the third line, you're combining like terms. You do this by adding/subtracting the coefficients in front of the variables.