maths again

[JOHNSCOTT]

25 years since i did this, more homework simplify 3x+1-5y+x-y+7-4x

[cathfromsaron]

why not use BODMAS, to solve them it this order:

by
of
divide
multiply
and/add/plus
subtract/take

[jake-the-peg]

imagine x means apples and y means pears

3 apples + 1 -5 pears + 1 apple - 1 pear + 7 - 4 apples

0 apples + 9 - 6 pears

or 9 - 5y

Does that help or make it worse?

[factor-fiction]

Collect together all your x terms then your y terms then your numbers:
0x -6y +8

This simplifies to 8-6y.
You could factorise this to 2(4-3y)

[Flyhalf]

Add together al the x's, 3x + x - 4x = 0,
Ditto y's,- 5y - y = -6y,
Ditto integers 1 + 7 = 8.
You are then left with 8 - 6y, or 2(4 - 3y).

[factor-fiction]

I think you need to check up on you numbers of apples and pears, jake

[factor-fiction]

Strictly speaking Maths teachers are not supposed to use terms such as apples and pears in this way, although many resort to it at times.
The reason is that in algebra x normally represents something like 'the price of an apple' rather than 'an apple'.
Let's see if Prudie supports me

[JOHNSCOTT]

thx, its coming back to me now

[factor-fiction]

Check your other question. I have corrected the answer someone gave last night

[syruphead]

big jack is correct

[factor-fiction]

Yes, bigjack is correct.

[Prudie]

I do support you factor and think I tried to avoid it as much as possible. I did however commit the sin of telling them the sign always belonged to the next term and to put these expressions in a collection of bubbles before shifting them about. Sometimes it was better for them to get the right answer first and then understand why later (in their education).