Combining Like Terms

Front

What does it mean to combine like terms in algebra?

Back

Combining like terms means to simplify an expression by adding or subtracting terms that have the same variable raised to the same power.

Front

What is a like term?

Back

Like terms are terms that have the same variable(s) raised to the same power. For example, 3x and 5x are like terms, while 3x and 4y are not.

Front

How do you simplify the expression x + 3x + 6x + x?

Back

You combine the coefficients of like terms: 1x + 3x + 6x + 1x = 11x.

Front

What is the result of simplifying the expression 7t - 3t + t - 3t?

Back

The result is 2t, obtained by combining like terms: (7 - 3 + 1 - 3)t = 2t.

Front

How do you simplify the expression 7j + 3k + 10j - k?

Back

Combine like terms: (7j + 10j) + (3k - k) = 17j + 2k.

Front

What is the simplified form of 4q + 4t + 3q + t?

Back

The simplified form is 7q + 5t, obtained by combining like terms: (4q + 3q) + (4t + 1t) = 7q + 5t.

Front

How do you simplify the expression 4k + 6k - 3k + 3s - s?

Back

Combine like terms: (4k + 6k - 3k) + (3s - 1s) = 7k + 2s.

Front

What is the coefficient in the term 5x?

Back

The coefficient is 5, which is the number multiplying the variable x.

Front

What is the constant term in the expression 2x + 3 - 4x + 7?

Back

The constant term is 10, obtained by combining the constants: 3 + 7 = 10.

Front

Can you combine the terms 2xy and 3x^2y?

Back

No, you cannot combine them because they are not like terms; they have different variable powers.