How do you combine $(–2x^4 – 3x^2) – (–9x^2 + 4x – 4)$ ?

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Answer 1 · 2015-04-29T11:57:36

You can only "combine" terms where the $x$ components are raised to the same exponent.
In this case only the $-3x^2$ and the $-9x^2$ can be combined

$(-2x^4-3x^2)-(-9x^2+4x-4)$

$=-2x^4-3x^2 +9x^2 -4x+4$

$= 2x^4+6x^2-4x+4$

This could be simplified, but I assume that is not part of your question.

How do you combine (–2x^4 – 3x^2) – (–9x^2 + 4x – 4) (–2x^4 – 3x^2) – (–9x^2 + 4x – 4) ?