## anonymous 5 years ago ok, i got a really bad grade. so how do you solve 2msquared + 2msquared?

1. anonymous

Define 'solve'. I don't see and equals sign :( .

2. anonymous

And so you mean: $(2m)^2 + (2m)^2 \text{or } 2m^2 + 2m^2$

3. anonymous

yes

4. anonymous

Yes? They are different. $(2m)^2 = 4m^2 \not= 2m^2$

5. anonymous

no, i need to simlify it to where i get an answer like 4m squared or something like that

6. anonymous

Right, but which one are you simplifying is what Newton is asking Is your equation: a) $$2m^2 + 2m^2$$ b) $$(2m)^2 + (2m)^2$$ c) none of the above.

7. anonymous

a

8. anonymous

And what do you suppose the answer is? If I told you that $$m^2 = apple$$, then you'd have $2m^2 + 2m^2 = 2apple + 2apple = ?$

9. anonymous

Thank God for your patience - I'm out.

10. anonymous

4apple, so do you also add the exponets together?

11. anonymous

Hehe, no worries Newton. Go have a pint. =)

12. anonymous

No.

13. anonymous

14. anonymous

2(apple) + 2(apple) = 4(apple) $$\ne 4apple^2$$ If you have 2 apples and I give you 2 more, you don't get square apples.

15. anonymous

ok

16. anonymous

But now since apple is $$m^2$$ you have $$4(apple) = 4m^2$$

17. anonymous

Oh!! :) ok, but what if it was m to the 4 + m to the 3

18. anonymous

Then you cannot combine them.

19. anonymous

But you can factor out a cubed m.

20. anonymous

i thought it would be m to the 7

21. anonymous

$m^4 + m^3 = (m*m*m*m) + (m*m*m)$

22. anonymous

ok

23. anonymous

Imagine m = 2. $2^4 + 2^3 = 16 + 8 = 24$ $2^7 = 128$ So no, $$m^4+m^3\ne m^7$$

24. anonymous

no, 2 t the 4 power is 16, 2 to the 3 power is 8

25. anonymous

But. $2^4 + 2^3 = 24$$2^3(2 + 1) = 8(3) = 24$

26. anonymous

It's the same either way. I just switched the order.

27. anonymous

Point is 16 + 8 is not 128

28. anonymous

well, thaks anyways. i gotta go :(