Question

(9r2+3r+6)+(6r2+2r)

would the exponents stay two or would they become for, and could you explain to me why?

Answer 1

The terms 9r^2 and 6r^2 are like terms. We add the numbers to the left of the "r^2" to get 9+6 = 15.

So 9r^2+6r^2 becomes 15r^2

The r^2 stays the same. We do not say something like r^2+r^2 = r^4. You might be thinking of r^2 * r^2 = r^(2+2) = r^4

When it comes to adding like terms, we keep the variables the same.

The other pair of like terms are 3r and 2r, so they add to 3r+2r = 5r

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Overall,

(9r^2+3r+6)+(6r^2+2r) = (9r^2+6r^2)+(3r+2r)+6

(9r^2+3r+6)+(6r^2+2r) = 15r^2+5r+6