Question

Combine like terms to simplify the expression below.

12(6x+4)+5x−8

Answer 1

12(6x +4) + 5x - 8

Distribute the 12 to the 6x and 4.

72x + 48 + 5x - 8

Combine 72x and 5x since they both have the variable x.


77x + 48 - 8

Combine 48 and 8 because they both have no variable

77x + 40

Answer 2

12 (6x + 4) + 5x -8

First you’d need to distribute the 12 in order to begin combining like terms.

72x + 48 +5x -8

Circle which have an exponent which would be 72x and +5x which would be 77x

Box the numbers without exponents and combine those 48 -8 which equals 40

77x + 40

There is no number that these two share so there is no way for them to be simplified so your answer is just 77x + 40.