Question

Which of these expressions CANNOT be simplified by combining like terms?

Answer 1

Answer:

5ab3 + 3a2b2 + a3b -10

Step-by-step explanation:

Answer 2

$5ab^{3} +7-3a^{2} b ^{2} +a^{3}b+10$ can be simplified to by adding the 7 and 10 to get $a^{3}b-3a^{2} b ^{2}+ 5ab^{3} + 17$.

$5ab^{3}+3a^{2}b^{2}+a^{3}b -10$ cannot be simplified any more by combining like terms.

By distributing the 2b into the parentheses, you can simplify the expression:
$5ab^{3}+2b(3ab^{2})+a^{3}b-10\\ 5ab^{3}+6ab^{3}+a^{3}b-10\\ 11ab^{3}+a^{3}b-10$

Here you can just add:
$5a^{3}b^{3}+3a^{2}b^{2}+a^{3}b^{3}-10ab\\ 6a^{3}b^{3}+3a^{2}b^{2}-10ab$

Thus, the only expression that cannot simplify any more using adding like terms is the second, $5ab^{3}+3a^{2}b^{2}+a^{3}b -10$.