Evaluate, Simplify, and Translate Expressions: example 2.21

Simplify the expression: $3 x + 7 + 4 x + 5 .$

Work it out on paper first. Then open the solution one step at a time, and stop as soon as you can finish on your own.

Your turn

The book's Try It right after this example: same idea, new numbers. Only the answer is given.

Simplify:

$7 x + 9 + 9 x + 8$

How did it go?


Identify the like terms.
Rearrange the expression, so the like terms are together.
Add the coefficients of the like terms.
The original expression is simplified to...