Common Core: A-SSE.1a
Problem 1 of 18a1-001
Which expression is equivalent to ?
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Solution walkthrough2:08
- Split the expression into terms. Each term keeps the sign in front of it: , , , , .
- Like terms have the same variable part. The terms go together, and the plain numbers go together.
- Move like terms next to each other, each with its own sign: .
- Combine the terms: , so . A lone counts as .
- Combine the numbers: . The simplified expression is .
- Traps: mixes the numbers into the terms, drops the lone , ignores minus signs.