Algebra 1 : How to subtract polynomials

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Algebra 1

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Example Questions

Example Question #31 : How To Subtract Polynomials

Simplify the following:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To solve this problem, first distribute anything through parentheses that needs to be distributed, then combine all terms with like variables (i.e. same variable, same exponent):

Example Question #32 : How To Subtract Polynomials

Simplify the following:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To solve this problem, first distribute anything through parentheses that needs to be distributed, then combine all terms with like variables (i.e. same variable, same exponent):

Example Question #32 : How To Subtract Polynomials

Subtract the polynomials  and .  

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Write the problem as an expression.   Remember to brace both polynomials with parentheses since we are subtracting by the quantity.

Remove the parentheses.  Simplify by distributing the negative sign through the second polynomial.

Combine like-terms.

The answer is:  

Example Question #33 : How To Subtract Polynomials

Subtract the polynomials   and 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Set up an expression and enclose both polynomials with parentheses.

Remove the parentheses and distribute the negative sign through each term in the second polynomial.

Combine like-terms.

The answer is:  

Example Question #35 : How To Subtract Polynomials

Translate and simplify:

The sum of

and

subtracted from

.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Sum the first two expressions:

 

Subtract the sum from to get:

By combining like terms we get:

Example Question #13 : Polynomials

Simplify the following expression:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

This is not a FOIL problem, as we are adding rather than multiplying the terms in parentheses.

Add like terms together:

has no like terms.

Combine these terms into one expression to find the answer:

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