Combining Like Terms

Front

What does it mean to combine like terms in an algebraic expression?

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 are like terms?

Back

Like terms are terms in an algebraic expression that have the same variable(s) and exponent(s). For example, 3x and 5x are like terms, while 3x and 4y are not.

Front

How do you combine the like terms in the expression -2x + 11 + 6x?

Back

You combine -2x and 6x to get 4x, so the expression simplifies to 4x + 11.

Front

What is the result of combining the like terms in the expression 3x + 2x + 3y - 7y?

Back

The like terms 3x and 2x combine to give 5x, and 3y and -7y combine to give -4y, resulting in 5x - 4y.

Front

How do you simplify the expression 5a + 2b - 3a + 4 by combining like terms?

Back

Combine 5a and -3a to get 2a, and the expression simplifies to 2a + 2b + 4.

Front

What is the simplified form of the expression y + x + y + y + x?

Back

Combine the like terms: 2x (from x + x) and 3y (from y + y + y), resulting in 2x + 3y.

Front

In the expression 2r + 2 + 5r - 2 + r, how do you combine like terms?

Back

Combine 2r, 5r, and r to get 8r, and combine 2 and -2 to get 0, resulting in 8r.

Front

What is the first step in combining like terms in an expression?

Back

The first step is to identify all the like terms in the expression.

Front

Why is it important to combine like terms in algebra?

Back

Combining like terms simplifies expressions, making them easier to work with and solve.

Front

Can constants be combined with variable terms when simplifying an expression?

Back

No, constants cannot be combined with variable terms; they are separate types of terms.