Holly’s expression contains a combination of terms involving the variables m and n, but it seems she might have overlooked the rules of combining like terms in algebra.
To understand Holly’s error, let’s break down the expression:
- 11m: This represents 11 times the variable m.
- 13n: This signifies 13 times the variable n.
- 6mn: This indicates 6 times the product of m and n.
- 10m: Another term for 10 times the variable m.
- 7n: This means 7 times the variable n.
- 3mn: This denotes 3 times the product of m and n.
- m: This stands for 1 times the variable m (which is effectively just m).
- 20n: This shows 20 times the variable n.
- 9mn: This represents 9 times the product of m and n.
Now, when combining terms, like terms must be added together. The like terms in Holly’s expression can be grouped as follows:
- m terms: 11m + 10m + m = 22m
- n terms: 13n + 7n + 20n = 40n
- mn terms: 6mn + 3mn + 9mn = 18mn
Therefore, the correct combined expression should be:
22m + 40n + 18mn
Holly’s error likely came from failing to accurately combine these like terms, which is a fundamental step in algebra to simplify expressions and maintain clarity in calculations. Addressing this will help ensure a clearer and more accurate understanding of the mathematical relationships involved.