5a + 3 + (2a - 2) + a= 5a + 3 + 2a - 2 + a= 8a + 1
2a + 5a + 3a = 10a
2a+5a+9a = 16a
2a + 10 + 5a - 2 = (2a + 5a) + (10 - 2) = 7a + 8
Add them together: 2a+5a = 7a
9a +8 -2a -3 -5a = 2a +5
2a + 3a = 5a
2a + 11a - 5a = 8a
3a + 2a = 5a
-7a+2a+9 is also -5a+9. -5a+9=24. -5a=15. a=-3.
If: 2a+13 = 5a+1 Then: a = 4
(5a+8) - (2a+4) =3a +4 To do this, simply subtract like terms. 5a-2a=3a and 8-4=4