collect like terms
8x^2+6x^4-2x^2-x^4-6x^2
so, where do you have trouble?
I am trying to get the right signs after each number
To collect like terms, we combine the terms that have the same variable and the same exponent.
Given the expression: 8x^2 + 6x^4 - 2x^2 - x^4 - 6x^2
We can rearrange the terms to group the like terms together:
(6x^4 - x^4) + (8x^2 - 2x^2 - 6x^2)
Next, we combine the like terms within each group:
5x^4 + (8x^2 - 2x^2 - 6x^2)
Simplifying further:
5x^4 + (8 - 2 - 6)x^2
Now, we combine the coefficients of the x^2 terms:
5x^4 + 0x^2
The x^2 terms cancel each other out and we are left with:
5x^4
Thus, the collected like terms expression is 5x^4.