Simplify the expression 7x2+8x−2(x2+4)−6 . What is the coefficient of x in the simplified expression?

To simplify the expression, we expand the expression -2(x^2+4):

-2(x^2+4) = -2x^2 - 8

Now we can rewrite the original expression:
7x^2+8x−2(x^2+4)−6 = 7x^2+8x - 2x^2 - 8 - 6

Combining like terms, we have:
(7x^2 - 2x^2) + (8x - 8) - 6 = 5x^2 + 8x -14

The coefficient of x in the simplified expression is 8.