Short Answer

Distributing Subtraction in Polynomial Cost Models

A logistics supervisor at a distribution center is comparing the operational costs of two shipping routes. The weekly cost model for Route A is 9b25b4{}9b^2 - 5b - 4 dollars, and the weekly cost model for Route B is 3b25b7{}3b^2 - 5b - 7 dollars, where bb represents the number of standard delivery batches. To determine the weekly cost difference, the supervisor must evaluate the polynomial subtraction expression:

(9b25b4)(3b25b7)({}9b^2 - 5b - 4) - ({}3b^2 - 5b - 7)

Before combining any like terms, the supervisor must recall and apply the algebraic rule for subtracting one polynomial from another.

  1. State the algebraic rule or process that must be applied to the second polynomial, (3b25b7)({}3b^2 - 5b - 7), in the very first step of this subtraction.
  2. Write the resulting expression immediately after applying this rule, showing all terms before they are grouped or simplified.

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Updated 2026-05-31

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