You can't. You can only subtract like terms. Like terms must have exactly the same variables and exponents on the variables.
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These terms are called like terms.For example: x and 2x are like terms.But: x3 and 4x2 are not like termsbecause although the variables are the same, the exponents are different.
like terms
are known as like terms.
Terms like 2x and 4x2 are not like terms. In order for terms to be like terms, they must have the exact same variables with the exact same exponents on them. This means that 5x3 and 7x3 are like terms, but 2x and 4x2 are not. To add or subtract like terms, simply add or subtract the coefficients (the numbers in front) and keep the variable part the same. For example, 5x3 + 7x3 = (5 + 7)x3 = 12x3, and 3x2 + 6x2 = (3 + 6)x2 = 9x2. But, since 2x and 4x2 are not like terms, 2x + 4x2 = 2x + 4x2. It just cannot be simplified any more than that.
Yes, monomials can have negative exponents. When a monomial has a negative exponent, it means that the variable or variables in the monomial are in the denominator of the fraction. For example, x^(-2) is equivalent to 1/x^2. Negative exponents indicate that the variable should be moved to the opposite side of the fraction line and the exponent becomes positive.