Question

choose the student who combined like terms correctly to write an equivalent expression.
5 + c + c + c - 4
melvin’s work
5 + c + c + c - 4
= 9c
sabrina’s work
5 + c + c + c - 4
= 3c + 1
sudesha’s work
5 + c + c + c - 4
= 4c
zisels’s work
5 + c + c + c - 4
= c + 1

Explanation:

Step1: Identify like terms

The original expression is \(5 + c + c + c - 4\). The like terms for \(c\) are \(c, c, c\) (so we sum their coefficients) and the constant terms are \(5\) and \(-4\) (we sum these constants).

Step2: Combine \(c\)-terms

The coefficient of \(c\) for each \(c\) is \(1\), so \(1c + 1c + 1c = (1 + 1 + 1)c = 3c\).

Step3: Combine constant terms

\(5 - 4 = 1\).

Step4: Form the equivalent expression

Combining both results, we get \(3c + 1\), which matches Sabrina's work.

Answer:

Sabrina's work (the option with \(5 + c + c + c - 4 = 3c + 1\))