text: To add or subtract polynomials, combine like terms.  These like terms have the same variables raised to the same exponents (ex. x^2 and 2x^2).  If there are brackets around them, get rid of brackets first, and then you just add or subtract their coefficients (number in front of the variable ---- 2x, coefficient would be 2).\n\nExamples:\n\n1) (2x -5z +y) - (7x + 4y - 2z)\n2) (2x^3 - 4xy^2 + 5(x^2)(y^2)) + (3x^3 + 2(x^2)y – 6(x^2)(y^2))\n\n\nSolutions:\n\n1) (2x -5z +y) - (7x + 4y - 2z)\n\n = (2x -5z +y) + (-7x - 4y + 2z) --- when subtracting something, you’re adding the opposite\n\n = 2x -5z +y -7x - 4y + 2z ----- remove brackets\n\n = 2x – 7x + y – 4y – 5z + 2z ----- rearrange terms so easier to see which are the same\n\n = -5x – 3y – 3z -----add/subtract coefficients of same variables raised to same exponents\n\n\n\n2) (2x^3 - 4xy^2 + 5(x^2)(y^2)) + (3x^3 + 2x^y – 6(x^2)(y^2))\n\n = 2x^3 - 4xy^2 + 5(x^2)(y^2) + 3x^3 + 2x^y – 6(x^2)(y^2) ----remove brackets\n\n = 2x^3 + 3x^3 + 5(x^2)(y^2) – 6(x^2)(y^2)+ 2(x^2)y - 4xy^2 ---- rearrange terms\n\n = 5x^3 – (x^2)(y^2) + 2(x^2)y – 4xy^2 ------- add/subtract coefficients \n\nhope this helped :)