Combine like terms. -w+4w+12 Do you combine -w and 4w? If so, explain why.

Question

Combine like terms.


`-w+4w+12`
Do you combine -w and 4w?
If so, explain why.

Answer 1

Answer: Yes; you do combine "-w" and "4w" ; because they are both "like terms" ; that is, they are both terms with the SAME first degree single variable in the entire expression.

So, to combine them:
-w + 4w = -1w + 4w = 3w ;

and we can simplify the entire expression:

" -w + 4w + 12 " ;
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to: " 3w + 12 " .
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Hope this explanation helps!