Question

3 + 5x-2 I’m trying to combine like terms

Answer 1

3 + 5x -2
3 and -2 are like terms

Answer 2

Answer:

1 + 5x

Step-by-step explanation:

Like terms are terms with the same variable parts.

Let's look at each term:

3    it has no variable

5x    it has the variable x

-2    it has no variable

The terms 3 and -2 have no variables, so their variable parts are the same. They are like terms and can be combined. The term 5x has the variable part x. There is no other term with the same variable part as 5x, so 5x cannot be combined with anything.

3 + 5x - 2 =

= 3 - 2 + 5x

= 1 + 5x