Question

How do you add `3.1b + 2.6b`?

Answer 1

`5.7 b`

Explanation:

Before we start solving I will introduce you to (remind you of) one of the basic factorization methods:

• `ax+ay=a(x+y)`

`ax+ay=a*x+a*y` Since both terms are multiplied by `a`

To do this, you first have to factorize the equation, by taking common factor of the two terms, which in the case of your example is b. Since both terms are multiplied by `b`

`3.1b+2.6b=3.1*b+2.6*b`

Now that we found a common factor, we apply the factorization method mentioned above,

`3.1*b+2.6*b=b(3.1+2.6)`

Now we can add 3.1 and 2.6 since they are between parenthesis:
`b(3.1+2.6)=b(5.7)=5.7b`