Question

I need help with how to write the expressions in its simplest form which is 15 and I also need help with 16

Answer 1

Recall that like terms are terms that have the same variables and powers. The coefficients of the terms do not have to match.

a.- Notice that 4z and -3z are like terms since they have the same variables with the same exponents, therefore:

$4z-3z=(4-3)z=1z=z\text{.}$

b.- Notice that 3n and -3n are like terms, but 6 is a constant, therefore:

$6-3n+3n=6+(-3+3)n=6+0n=6.$

c.- In the given expression, the similar terms are 2g and -8g, and -3 and 11, therefore:

$2g-3+11-8g=(2-8)g+(-3+11)=-6g+8.$

d.- In the last expression, first, we have to apply the distributive property:

$3(4x-5)+4(2x+6)=12x-15+8x+24.$

Now, adding like terms we get:

$12x-15+8x+24=20x+9.$

Answer:

a.-

$z\text{.}$

b.-

$6.$

c.-

$-6g+8.$

d.-

$20x+9.$