Question

3. What is the simplest way to write

3a + 2b - 3a + b? Briefly show or explain your
reasoning.

Answer 1

9a^2- 4b^2

First, Apply the distributive property 3a(3a)+3a(−2b)+2b(3a)+2b(−2b)

Second Simplify the term. 3a(3a)+2b(−2b)

Third, Simplify Each term.

3⋅3a2+2b(−2b)

9a2+2b(−2b)

9a2+2⋅−2b2

= 9a2−4b2

Answer 2

3b is the answer

3a+2b-3a+b

3a-3a+2b+b

2b+b

Explanation:

The first step I did is switch up the equation so that the like terms are next to each other. So the a’s are next to each other and the b’s are next to each other. Then I subtracted 3a-3a and got 0 and in the last step I added the 2b + b and got 3b.