maribii07: 2t + 5 - 8t - 2
okay, you have numbers and you have lots of t's (you can think of them as the tigers if it helps).
The minus signs always belongs to whatever is behind it.
so the terms are 2t, -8t, +5 and -2
You can't add t's (or tigers) to numbers, it doesn't make sense.
YOU CAN ONLY ADD OR SUBTRACT LIKE TERMS
In your original question, put a circle around the 2t and around the -8t.
2-8=-6 so 2t-8t=-6t
and 5-2=3
so the answer is
-5t+3
+118654 
