Question

Difficulty: MediumSimplifying Expressions and Combining Like Terms

Match each algebraic expression on the left with its fully simplified equivalent expression on the right. All variables represent real numbers.

  • 3a(a22ab)(a35a2b)3a(a^2 - 2ab) - (a^3 - 5a^2b)2a3a2b2a^3 - a^2b
  • a2(2ab)2a(a2ab)a^2(2a - b) - 2a(a^2 - ab)a2ba^2b
  • (a3+3a2b)+3a2(a+b)-(a^3 + 3a^2b) + 3a^2(a + b)2a32a^3

Answer

The first expression 3a(a22ab)(a35a2b)3a(a^2 - 2ab) - (a^3 - 5a^2b) matches 2a3a2b2a^3 - a^2b. The second expression a2(2ab)2a(a2ab)a^2(2a - b) - 2a(a^2 - ab) matches a2ba^2b. The third expression (a3+3a2b)+3a2(a+b)-(a^3 + 3a^2b) + 3a^2(a + b) matches 2a32a^3.
Each expression on the left is simplified by distributing the coefficients and combining the like terms. The first expression simplifies to 2a3a2b2a^3 - a^2b. The second expression simplifies to a2ba^2b. The third expression simplifies to 2a32a^3. These match the corresponding simplified expressions on the right.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Simplify the first expression 3a(a22ab)(a35a2b)3a(a^2 - 2ab) - (a^3 - 5a^2b)
2a3a2b2a^3 - a^2b
Multiply 3a3a by both terms in the first parentheses to get 3a36a2b3a^3 - 6a^2b. Distribute the negative sign to both terms in the second parentheses to get a3+5a2b-a^3 + 5a^2b. Combine the a3a^3 terms to get 2a32a^3 and the a2ba^2b terms to get a2b-a^2b.
2
Simplify the second expression a2(2ab)2a(a2ab)a^2(2a - b) - 2a(a^2 - ab)
a2ba^2b
Multiply a2a^2 by both terms in the first parentheses to get 2a3a2b2a^3 - a^2b. Multiply 2a-2a by both terms in the second parentheses to get 2a3+2a2b-2a^3 + 2a^2b. Combine the a3a^3 terms to get 00 and the a2ba^2b terms to get a2ba^2b.
3
Simplify the third expression (a3+3a2b)+3a2(a+b)-(a^3 + 3a^2b) + 3a^2(a + b)
2a32a^3
Distribute the negative sign to get a33a2b-a^3 - 3a^2b. Multiply 3a23a^2 by both terms in the second parentheses to get 3a3+3a2b3a^3 + 3a^2b. Combine the a3a^3 terms to get 2a32a^3 and the a2ba^2b terms to get 00.

Key Concept

Simplifying Expressions and Combining Like Terms
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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