Question

Simplify the following polynomial. Final answer must be in standard form:
`( {2m}^(2) - 8m + 2) - ( {3m}^(2) + 5m - 7`

Answer 1

The given expression is

`(2m^2-8m+2)-(-3m^2+5m-7)`

First, we use the distributive property to get rid of the parenthesis.

`2m^2-8m+2+3m^2-5m+7`

Then, we reduce like terms. Remember that like terms are those terms with the same variable and the exponent, for example, 2m^{2} and 3m^{2} are like terms because the have the same variable with the same exponent. Once you identify the like terms, you just have to sum or subtract them according to their signs, if they have the same sign, you sum, if they have different signs, you subtract.

`5m^2-13m+9`

Hence, the simplified expression is

`5m^2-13m+9`