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In Mathematics / High School | 2025-07-03

Find the sum or difference of the following monomials:

1. 2x + (-5x)
2. -2a^2 - (-6a^2)
3. y + (-y)
4. -9x^2y^3 - (-9x^2y^3)
5. -16mn^3 + (-12mn^3)
6. 10a^2b^3 - (-8a^2b^3)
7. -21x^4 + 17x^4 - 12x^4
8. 18xyz + (-5xyz) - (-12xyz)

Asked by leahcast446

Answer (2)

To find the sum or difference of monomials, we combine like terms. Like terms have the same variable and exponents.

2 x + ( − 5 x )
Combine like terms: 2 x − 5 x = − 3 x .

− 2 a 2 − ( − 6 a 2 )
Simplify by subtracting a negative: − 2 a 2 + 6 a 2 = 4 a 2 .

y + ( − y )
Combine like terms: y − y = 0 .

− 9 x 2 y 3 − ( − 9 x 2 y 3 )
Simplify by subtracting a negative: − 9 x 2 y 3 + 9 x 2 y 3 = 0 .

− 16 m n 3 + ( − 12 m n 3 )
Combine like terms: − 16 m n 3 − 12 m n 3 = − 28 m n 3 .

10 a 2 b 3 − ( − 8 a 3 ) h a 3 b
Without any specific instructions, this expression can't be simplified further due to different exponents and variables.

− 21 x 4 + 17 x 4 − 12 x 4
Combine like terms: − 21 x 4 + 17 x 4 − 12 x 4 = − 16 x 4 .

18 x yz + ( − 5 x yz ) − ( − 12 x yz )
Simplify by subtracting a negative: 18 x yz − 5 x yz + 12 x yz = 25 x yz .


By understanding how to recognize and combine like terms, you can simplify expressions with monomials efficiently.

Answered by BenjaminOwenLewis | 2025-07-06

To combine the given monomials, we added or subtracted like terms. The final results for each expression are: -3x, 4a², 0, 0, -28mn³, 18a²b³, -16x⁴, and 25xyz. Understanding how to simplify monomials is key in algebra.
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Answered by BenjaminOwenLewis | 2025-07-06