ISEE Upper Level Math : How to add variables
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Example Questions
Example Question #241 : Algebraic Concepts
On Gina's swim team, 40 percent of the swimmers also play one other sport (cross country, soccer, or baseball) competitively. There are 20 people on her swim team. Of the swimmers who play one other sport, 2 of them participate in cross country, and twice as many people play soccer as those who play baseball. How many play soccer?
On Gina's swim team, 40 percent of the swimmers also play one other sport competitively. Given that there are 20 people on her swim team, 8 people play one other sport because 40 percent of 20 is 8.
If 2 swimmers run cross country that leaves 6 swimmers who play a different sport.
Given that twice as many play soccer as those who play baseball, it follows that 4 play soccer and 2 play baseball.
Thus, 4 is the correct answer.
Example Question #12 : How To Add Variables
Simplify the following expression:
Simplify the following expression:
We can solve this question in one step.
We need to add some variables, but we need to recall that we can only add variables with the same exponent. Thus, we can only add the b^7's.
With this in mind, simply add the coefficients and keep the rest the same.
So our answer is
Example Question #13 : How To Add Variables
Simplify the following expression.
Simplify the following expression.
When adding variables, we can only add those with the same exponent. The others must remain unchanged.
That means that in this problem, we can only add the blue terms.
Because these terms are the only ones with the same exponents.
So, to add them, keep the exponents the same and add the coefficients (the numbers out in front).
Now, just rewrite it in standard form and you have our answer
Example Question #14 : How To Add Variables
Combine the following:
When adding variables, we will look at the variables like objects.
So, in the problem
we can think of the variable b as books. So,
We can read it like this: We borrowed 3 books from the library yesterday. We go back to the library and borrow 5 more books. How many books have we borrowed altogether? We have borrowed 8 books. So,
We add variables the same way.
Example Question #15 : How To Add Variables
Simplify the following:
Simplify the following:
To combine the given expression, we need to realize that we can only combine terms with the same exponent.
In this case, all our terms have the same exponents, so we can add them up just like we would any integer.
To add up our terms, simply add up the coefficients and keep the exponent the same. (With this in mind we could eliminate any answer choices which do not have an exponent of two)
So, do the following:
So, we have our answer of 60 x squared
Example Question #61 : Operations
Simplify the following:
The expression cannot be simplified any further
Simplify the following:
We can only add variables with the same exponents.
In this case, we have two "x to the sixth" terms.
So, we treat the first x to the sixth as
Then, we add it to
Example Question #62 : Operations
Add:
In order to simplify this expression, we will need to add like terms.
There is a lone positive three.
Combine all the terms.
The answer is:
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