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Why is it better to move the term with the smaller coefficient?

User Hero Tra
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Final answer:

It is better to move the term with the smaller coefficient because it simplifies the expression and makes it easier to work with and avoid errors.

Step-by-step explanation:

When simplifying algebraic expressions or solving equations, it is often better to move the term with the smaller coefficient in front of the term with the larger coefficient. This is because it makes the expression or equation easier to work with and helps avoid errors.

For example, consider the expression 3x + 5x. By moving the term with the smaller coefficient, 3x, in front of the term with the larger coefficient, 5x, we get 3x + 5x = 5x + 3x. This simplifies the expression and makes it easier to combine like terms.

Moving the term with the smaller coefficient can also make it easier to solve equations. For instance, when solving the equation 2x + 4 = 10, it is better to move the term with the smaller coefficient, 4, to the other side of the equation. This gives us 2x = 10 - 4, which simplifies to 2x = 6.

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