Final answer:
To simplify the expression
distribute the negative sign and combine like terms. The simplified expression is
![a^2 - 3.](https://img.qammunity.org/2021/formulas/mathematics/high-school/won460kylcnknmbtrxum5uedasqzkx5ivz.png)
Step-by-step explanation:
To simplify the expression
, we need to remove the parentheses and combine like terms. First, distribute the negative sign in front of the second set of parentheses:
![(3a^2 + 1) - (4 + 2a^2) = 3a^2 + 1 - 4 - 2a^2](https://img.qammunity.org/2021/formulas/mathematics/high-school/agj5dkv7v6w7hwqb23ryek2lajq4lsm1ub.png)
Next, combine like terms by adding or subtracting coefficients of the same degree terms:
![3a^2 - 2a^2 + 1 - 4 = (3 - 2)a^2 + (1 - 4) = a^2 - 3](https://img.qammunity.org/2021/formulas/mathematics/high-school/s2q27igrf2vfdfaf6bkqhiustx3nj43k6a.png)
Therefore, the simplified expression is
written in standard form.