Video Transcript
Simplify the expression negative three 𝑥 minus five 𝑥 minus nine 𝑥 minus 11𝑥.
The first thing we notice is that all four of these terms have the same variable 𝑥. And all the variables have the same exponents of one. But we usually keep 𝑥 to the first power written as just 𝑥. Because all four of these terms have the same variable taken to the same exponent, they’re called like terms. And they can be added and subtracted from one another.
To do that, we add or subtract the coefficients, negative three minus five minus nine minus 11. Negative three minus five is negative eight. Negative nine minus 11 is negative 20. Negative eight minus 20 or negative eight plus negative 20 equals negative 28. And we bring down that 𝑥 variable for a final answer of negative 28𝑥.
