Understanding Like Terms
When combining like terms, it’s important to identify terms that share the same variable and exponent. In the expression 25b - 32 + 7b - 20b, we’re looking for terms that include the variable "b."
Identifying the Terms
- Constant Terms: -32
- Terms with 'b':
- 25b
- 7b
- -20b
Combining Like Terms with 'b'
To combine the 'b' terms, we add their coefficients:
- Start with 25 (from 25b)
- Add 7 (from 7b)
- Subtract 20 (from -20b)
Now, perform the calculation:
- 25 + 7 = 32
- 32 - 20 = 12
So, the combined 'b' term is 12b.
Bringing it All Together
Now, we can rewrite the entire expression by including the constant term:
- Combined expression: 12b - 32
Final Result
Thus, the simplified form of the expression 25b - 32 + 7b - 20b is:
- 12b - 32
Conclusion
By following these steps, you can easily combine like terms to simplify expressions. Remember to always group similar terms together and perform arithmetic on their coefficients.