Question 5-x-3-

2.4 Equivalent Expressions - Simplifying polynomials
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(5x3-3)-(-4x3+8)

The given expression is equivalent to b x 3 - 11 , where b is a constant. What is the value of b ?

Enter your answer:

( 5 x 3 - 3 ) - ( - 4 x 3 + 8 )

Hard-difficulty · SAT Math · Equivalent Expressions — Simplifying polynomials. Read the question above, select your answer, and check the full explanation below to understand exactly why the correct choice works.

Answer explanation

The correct answer is 9 . The given expression can be rewritten as 5x3-3+-1-4x3+8. By applying the distributive property, this expression can be rewritten as 5x3-3+4x3+-8, which is equivalent to 5x3+4x3+-3+-8. Adding like terms in this expression yields 9x3-11. Since it's given that 5x3-3--4x3+8 is equivalent to bx3-11, it follows that 9x3-11 is equivalent to bx3-11. Therefore, the coefficients of x3 in these two expressions must be equivalent, and the value of b must be 9 .