Please help me Combine the Like Terms, I really need help. My teacher said to show at least one more step.

Evaluate the following when a = 4 and b = -1.
Question~~ 4a – 5b + 2a – b2
My answer~~
4*(4)-5*(-1)+2*(4)-(-1)^2 = 28

4a – 5b + 2a – b^2

= 6a - 5b - b^2
= 24 - 5(-1) - (-1)^2
= 24 + 5 - 1
= 28

you are right , notice I simplified by algebra first, makes no difference which way

oh okay! Thank you sooo much!! I really appreciate your help!

To combine like terms, you need to combine the coefficients of the variables that are the same. In the given expression 4a - 5b + 2a - b^2, we have two like terms with 'a' and two different terms with 'b'.

First, let's combine the terms with 'a':
4a + 2a = 6a

Now, let's combine the terms with 'b':
-5b - b^2

To evaluate the expression when a = 4 and b = -1, we substitute these values into the expression.

Substituting 'a = 4' and 'b = -1' into the expression:
6a - 5b - b^2
= 6(4) - 5(-1) - (-1)^2
= 24 + 5 + 1
= 30

Therefore, when a = 4 and b = -1, the expression 4a - 5b + 2a - b^2 evaluates to 30, not 28 as you calculated.