7-1 Additional Practice Adding And Subtracting Polynomials Answer Key May 2026

The subtraction was the worst. His friend Mia had whispered, “Just distribute the minus sign, Leo. Like a negative love letter.” But Leo kept forgetting to flip the last sign.

He imagined the crisp, boxed answers: 1. 4x² - 2x + 2. 2. -2m² + 6m + 1. The certainty of it. No more eraser shavings on his jeans. No more gnawing doubt. The subtraction was the worst

Ms. Kellar walked back in. “Time’s up. Pass your papers forward.” He imagined the crisp, boxed answers: 1

At the top, in blue ink, she had written: “You found the tower. +1 extra credit for honesty. I saw you look at the key and choose not to flip it.” -2m² + 6m + 1

Slowly, deliberately, Leo turned the page of his own notebook. He crossed out his first attempt on problem #7. He rewrote the subtraction vertically, aligning the like terms: