Question

How do you simplify `a+ 4a + 0.5a - 0.75a`?

Answer 1

You add the variables.

Explanation:

Since all of these numbers are multiples of the variable "a", they can be added and subtracted like normal numbers.

According to PEMDAS, it does not matter in which order we add or subtract in, so let's just start at the beginning.

`a+4a` can also be rewritten as `1a+4a`.

If `1+4=5`, then `1a+4a=5a`.

If `5+0.5=5.5`, then `5a+0.5a=5.5a`.

If `5.5-0.75=4.75`, then `5.5a-0.75a=4.75a`.

So, the final answer is `4.75a`.