Simplify (3^x) + (3^1/2) - 2 * (3^y) + (6^y) + (2^1/2) * ...

[ckraus04]

Tutor needs help, PLEASE:

"Simplify by adding (or subtracting) like terms wherever possible:

(3^x )+ (3^1/2) -2 * (3^y) +(6^y) + (2^1/2) *x-5 * (3^x)

I have worked this problem over and over and still can not come up with the right answer, please help. I am tutoring my sister for an exam and the answer that her instructor gives is :

-4 * (3^x) + [(3^1/2) + (2^1/2)]x -2 * (3^y) + (6^y)

i can get almost everything, But where is the -4 comming from, sorry about the ^1/2 but i dont have a square root sign on this keyboard.

Thank you Thank you for any help

 

[wjm11]

Simplify by adding (or subtracting) like terms wherever possible:

(3^x )+ (3^1/2) -2 * (3^y) +(6^y) + (2^1/2) *x-5 * (3^x)

I have worked this problem over and over and still can not come up with the right answer, please help. I am tutoring my sister for an exam and the answer that her instructor gives is :

-4 * (3^x) + [(3^1/2) + (2^1/2)]x -2 * (3^y) + (6^y)

i can get almost everything, But where is the -4 comming from, sorry about the ^1/2 but i dont have a square root sign on this keyboard.

The –4 comes from combining the first and last terms: 3^x –5(3^x) = -4(3^x).

There appear to be other problems however; your original problem and your stated answer are not equivalent. There is no x(3^1/2) term in the problem statement, but there is in the answer. Are you sure they are both written correctly?

 

[stapel]

Tutor needs help, PLEASE:

Being a tutor, you of course understand the importance of clear communication, such as unambiguous formatting and showing one's work. :wink:

"Simplify by adding (or subtracting) like terms wherever possible:

(3^x )+ (3^1/2) -2 * (3^y) +(6^y) + (2^1/2) *x-5 * (3^x)

As posted, the above means the following:

. . . . .\(\displaystyle 3^x\, +\, 3^{1/2}\, -\, (2)(3^y)\, +\,6^y\, +\, (2^{1/2})(x)\, -\, (5)(3^x)\)

Was this what you meant? :?:

I have worked this problem over and over...

Please reply with a clear listing of your work and reasoning. Thank you!

Eliz.

 

[ckraus04]

For WJM 11, yes the x was lost in translation. Thanks for catching that. {(3^1/2) * x -2 ...} Thanks again.
Eliz, can you tell me an easier way to type in my work, the original post took me 15 minutes to type?
To all of you, this is an amazing site, and you are doing an amazing thing here.
Catrina

 

[stapel]

Eliz, can you tell me an easier way to type in my work, the original post took me 15 minutes to type?

Your post, including spaces, is 558 characters. Using the standard of five characters to a "word", fifteen minutes to enter this text converts to a speed of seven or eight words a minute (WPM). The average "hunt and peck" typist averages thirty WPM; naturally, learning to touch-type leads to much greater speeds. :!:

So it would appear that greater experience, or perhaps taking a "keyboarding" class, should suffice to solve this problem. :wink:

Eliz.