12p - 3 - 17p + 42
Combine "like" terms.
The -3 and 42 are both constants and combine to give 39.
The 12p and -17p are both linear terms (p to the first power times a constant coefficient) and combine to give -5p.
So, your expression simplifies to
-5p +39
To simplify the expression 12p - 3 - 17p + 42, we can combine like terms.
Step 1: Combine the terms with the same variable.
12p - 17p = -5p
Step 2: Combine the constant terms.
-3 + 42 = 39
Therefore, the simplified expression is -5p + 39.