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Can someone tell me the error in this problem ​

Can someone tell me the error in this problem ​-example-1
User Joshi
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1 Answer

1 vote

Answer:

You got your negatives messed up. The answer was -5y-4x

Explanation:

Expression: -8y + 5x + 3y -9x

Your objective: Simplify the expression

The First step, Combine like terms meaning -8y+3y and -9x+5x

Solve, -8y+3y

That would equal -5y

Next solve -9x + 5x

That would equal -4x

Write your expression in simplest form:

-5y-4x

What you did:

You combined like terms but didn't follow the negative rules

Remember: Positive and Negative = Negative

Negative and Negative = Positive

For example -8y + 3y

You chose to add -8 and 3 which you got -11

What you were supposed to do was to subtract.

A helpful trick: Since they are like terms you could rearrange the questions like this 3y-8y+5x-9x, You can see that you have to do subtraction left to right

3y-8y= -5y

5x-9x= -4x

Solution: -5x-4x

User Mara
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4.7k points