simplify!

• August 17th 2011, 07:12 PM
Pandatwirler2
simplify!
(1.2x^3+4.5x^2-3.8x)+(-3.4x^3-4.7x^2+23)
• August 17th 2011, 07:24 PM
pickslides
Re: simplify!
The . indicate decimal points I assume?

If so simply group and add like terms $1.2x^3+-3.4x^3 = -2.2x^3$ do the same for different orders of $x$
• August 17th 2011, 07:47 PM
Pandatwirler2
Re: simplify!
-4x(2x^3-6x^2-5x+1)
• August 17th 2011, 08:12 PM
SammyS
Re: simplify!
Quote:

Originally Posted by Pandatwirler2
-4x(2x^3-6x^2-5x+1)

2x^3-6x^2-5x+1 isn't factorable.
• August 17th 2011, 08:55 PM
pickslides
Re: simplify!
Quote:

Originally Posted by Pandatwirler2
-4x(2x^3-6x^2-5x+1)

You can expand the $-4x$ into the bracket here,

$-4x(2x^3-6x^2-5x+1) = -4x\times 2x^3-4x\times-6x^2-4x\times-5x-4x\times 1 = \dots$

Is that what you are after?
• August 18th 2011, 12:09 PM
Pandatwirler2
Re: simplify!
yes but how do you multiply -4x with 2x^3?
• August 18th 2011, 12:51 PM
bigwave
Re: simplify!
you multiply the coefficients and add the exponents

$(-4x)(2x^3) = -8x^4$
• August 18th 2011, 06:47 PM
Wilmer
Re: simplify!
Quote:

Originally Posted by Pandatwirler2
yes but how do you multiply -4x with 2x^3?

Has you teacher not told you how?