McGraw Hill Glencoe Algebra 2, 2012
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McGraw Hill Glencoe Algebra 2, 2012 View details
1. Multiplying and Dividing Rational Expressions
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Exercise 82 Page 537

Remember, only like terms can be combined.

- 3x^2 - 7x + 8

Practice makes perfect

The first step in simplifying this expression is to identify which, if any, terms can be combined. Remember, only like terms — constant terms or terms with the same variable and the same exponent — can be combined. ( x^2 - 4x + 3) - ( 4x^2 + 3x - 5) In this case, we have two x^2-terms, two x-terms, and two constants. All terms can be combined, so to simplify the expression we will rearrange it according to the Commutative Property of Addition and then combine like terms.

(x^2 - 4x + 3) - (4x^2 + 3x - 5)
(x^2 - 4x + 3) - 4x^2 - 3x + 5
x^2 - 4x + 3 - 4x^2 - 3x + 5
x^2 - 4x^2 - 4x - 3x + 3 + 5
- 3x^2 - 7x + 8