Simplify 3x + 5 + 7 x - 3 - x + 2

Before we do this problem, let's go over a little algebra terminology.

The number in front of your variable is called your coefficient and notice that the x at the end of the problem does not have a coefficient.

When that happens, when there is no number in front of your variable, you can put a 1 there to fill that position. So - x can be thought of as - 1x.

Next let's change all our minus signs to plus negatives.

So the problem reads 3x + 5 + 7x + - 3 + - 1x + 2.

Now let's simplify this by combining like terms.

We can combine our "x" terms first.

3x + 7x + - 1x simplifies to + 9x.

Now, 5 + - 3 + 2 simplifies to 4.

So our answer is 9x + 4.