Advanced MathHardSum of the remaining coefficients
Advanced Math practice question
For all x, (3x + 1)(x + 2) − 3x(x + 3) = ax + b, where a and b are constants. What is the value of a + b?
Answer: 0
(3x² + 7x + 2) − (3x² + 9x) = −2x + 2, so a = −2, b = 2, and a + b = 0.
Common wrong answers
- If you answered 2
- 2 is b alone.
- If you answered 4
- 4 comes from 2x + 2 (wrong sign on a).
- If you answered -2
- −2 is a alone.
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