Question 83923
The problem can be re-written like this:
{{{(7m^2-5m-8)-(5m^2+2m+9)}}}
The tricky thing is that minus sign in front of the (5m^2+2m+9). We ultimately want to simplify this by combining like terms. Think of that minus sign as a -1 multiplying each of the terms inside (5m^2+2m+9). Multiplying through by that -1 will allow us to combine terms later:
{{{7m^2-5m-8-5m^2-2m-9}}}
Now you can combine the m^2, m, and whole number terms like this:
{{{highlight(2m^2-7m-17)}}}
And you are done.
Good Luck,
tutor_paul@yahoo.com