Question

Simplify the expressions by combining like terms

3e - 19 - 7e + 10

Answer 1

-4e - 9

Explanation:

This requires combining like terms, which means that you combine the same types of values. In this one there are two "types" of values: something that involves the variable e and just normal numbers. Let's say that the "e"s are oranges and the regular numbers are apples. Remember, you can't simply add oranges and apples together

let's start with apples (the regular numbers)

you have -19 (just pretend the minus sign is attached to the value following)

and +10

so -19+10 is -9

we have -9 apples

so now let's look at oranges, represented by e

you have 3e and -7e

if one e is one orange, then you could say that there are 3 oranges and -7 oranges

so if you subtract you get -4e, or -4 oranges

now let's add that back together with the apples, remembering that you can't actually combine them

so it would be -4e - 9

(-4 oranges and -9 apples)