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algebra 1
Hi, I have a lot of trouble with basic algebra, so I'm trying to start from the beginning and try to reteach myself some of the basic concepts.
I have an example problem, and then a question that follows...if someone could please help me out, it'd be greatly appreciated.
I'm supposed to simplify:
3x+2y - 5x+8y
I understand that I have to group the like-terms together, therefore it becomes:
(3x-5x)+(2y+8y)
It's pretty pathetic to say this, but this is where I get stuck... I know how to group the like-terms... but what confuses me is which signs to use at which time. For instance, Why does the positive sign change to a negative sign,meanwhile the sign between the two sets of parentheses changes to a plus sign? How do I know when I'm supposed to change a sign and when I'm supposed to keep one the same?
I understand that the solution comes to
-2x+10y
though the middle part... regrouping all the numbers together because of the sign changes, that part confuses me. Are there any easy tips or me to remember which sign is supposed to come next?
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you don't need to group them in parenthesis.
so it would be 3x-5x+2y+8y or -2x+10y
the signs don't ever change. 3x-5x is subtraction because its -5x. and when you use grouping to solve equations its always addition in the middle unless a specific number is negative (in this case it would be if the 2y was negative).
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You actually don't need to group them in parentheses.
So the problem is:
3x+2y-5x+8y
Keep the sign before each number with that number.
So you have a +3x and a -5x what happens when you add those together? -2x (the first part of your answer)
Then the Y's. There is a +2y and an +8y when you add those you get your answer, +10y.
So answer is -2x+10y
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