
Originally Posted by
millerst
No, you can only add and subtract the bases, or the leading coefficient of the x term if the power and the variables are the same.
For example you can do:
$\displaystyle 20x^2 - 4x^2 = 16x^2$
BUT YOU CANNOT DO:
$\displaystyle 20x^3 - 4x^2 = 16x$