Question

How do you combine like terms in `2x - 4[ 2- 3( x + 4y ) - 2]`?

Answer 1

`14x+48y`

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Explanation:

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Like terms are terms that contain the same variables raised to the same power. Only the numerical coefficients are different.

In an expression, only like terms can be combined. We combine like terms to shorten and simplify algebraic expressions, so we can work with them more easily.

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`2x−4[2−3(x+4y)−2]`

Group the like terms inside the parantheses, so that we get:

`2x−4[-3(x+4y)+2-2]`

`2x−4[-3(x+4y)]`

`2x-12(x+4y)`

Apply the distributive property `a(b+c)=ab+ac` to expand:

`=2x+12x+48y`

Add the similar terms `2x+12x=14x` to get:

`=14x+48y`

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That's it!