To simplify the expression \( 5 + 6b + 12c + 10b - 4c - 2 \), we start by combining like terms.
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Combine the constant terms: \[ 5 - 2 = 3 \]
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Combine the terms with variable \( b \): \[ 6b + 10b = 16b \]
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Combine the terms with variable \( c \): \[ 12c - 4c = 8c \]
Now, we can rewrite the expression with the simplified terms: \[ 3 + 16b + 8c \]
In this simplest form of the expression, the coefficient of variable \( b \) is \( 16 \).