Like Terms

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What are like terms in algebra?

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

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How do you combine like terms?

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To combine like terms, you add or subtract the coefficients of the terms that are alike. For example, 3x + 5x = (3 + 5)x = 8x.

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What is a coefficient in an algebraic expression?

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A coefficient is a numerical factor that multiplies a variable in an algebraic expression. For example, in 5x, 5 is the coefficient.

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What is a constant in an algebraic expression?

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A constant is a term that does not contain any variables. For example, in the expression 4y + 2 + x, the number 2 is a constant.

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How do you identify the number of terms in an expression?

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To identify the number of terms in an expression, count the number of distinct parts separated by plus or minus signs. For example, in 3a + 2b + c + 100, there are 4 terms.

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What is a variable in an algebraic expression?

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A variable is a symbol, usually a letter, that represents an unknown value in an algebraic expression. For example, in 3x + 9, x is the variable.

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What is the difference between a term and a factor?

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A term is a single mathematical expression that can be a number, variable, or the product of numbers and variables. A factor is a number or expression that divides another number or expression evenly.

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How do you simplify the expression 3x - 5x?

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To simplify the expression 3x - 5x, combine the like terms: 3x - 5x = -2x.

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What is the role of parentheses in algebraic expressions?

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Parentheses indicate that the operations inside them should be performed first according to the order of operations.

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What does it mean to evaluate an expression?

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To evaluate an expression means to calculate its value by substituting the variables with specific numbers.