Question

Combine the like terms to create an equivalent expression: −12−6p−(−2)

Answer 1

When you combine like terms, you essentially add things that are similar, like integers or variables. Here, we have 2 integers and 1 variable. We will add the two integers and leave the 1 variable as it has no like terms to be added with.

So we have -12 -6p -(-2). When we have -(-n), that makes +n; when there is a minus sign in front of brackets, that flips the sign of everything inside the brackets — -(-2) becomes +2.

So now, we have -12-6p+2. We add -12 and +2 and get -10. So our expression looks like this: -10-6p, and thats it.