Claudio needs to simplify the expression below. 3.5x2+9(7.1+0.5)+4

Please use "^" to denote exponentiation.  "x2" doesn't cut it.

Simplify:   3.5x^2+9(7.1+0.5)+4

We must carry out operations in a certain order.  Here, you must do any operations within parentheses first, followed by exponentiation, followed by mult. and div., followed by add. and subtr.

Thus, we get 3.5x^2 + 9(7.6) + 4

... which comes out to 3.5x^2 + 31.5 + 4

Cannot do anything further with 3.5x^2; all we can do is to add 31.5 and 4:

3.5x^2 + 35.5 (answer)

Horizontal change or the change of x