How do you write #(3x^4 - 4x^3 - 5x^2 - 1) + (7x^4 - 6x^3 -7x^2 - 8)# in standard form?

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Answer 1 · 2017-06-19T19:42:56

See a solution process below:

First, remove all of the terms from parenthesis. Be careful to handle the signs of each individual term correctly:

#3x^4 - 4x^3 - 5x^2 - 1 + 7x^4 - 6x^3 - 7x^2 - 8#

Next, group like terms in descending order of the exponents power:

#3x^4 + 7x^4 - 4x^3 - 6x^3 - 5x^2 - 7x^2 - 1 - 8#

Now, combine like terms:

#(3 + 7)x^4 + (-4 - 6)x^3 + (-5 - 7)x^2 + (-1 - 8)#

#10x^4 + (-10)x^3 + (-12)x^2 + (-9)#

#10x^4 - 10x^3 - 12x^2 - 9#