You can put this solution on YOUR website! Good morning,
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We add adding together two polynomials.
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Remember that we can only combine like terms (the same variable, raised to the same power.) We can combine the two a-squared terms by adding their coefficients (5/4 and 3/8), but they must have the same denominator. The fraction 5/4 is equivalent to 10/8, so 5/4+3/8 = 10/8+3/8 = 13/8.
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We can combine the a-terms by adding their coefficients: -3a+(1/2)a = -(5/2)a.
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Finally, we can combine the constant terms: -(1/2)+2 = 3/2
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That's it. Feel free to email me if you have questions about the explanation.
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Ms.Figgy
math.in.the.vortex@gmail.com