Combining Like Terms

Front

What does it mean to combine like terms in an 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 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 2a + 3a?

Back

You add the coefficients: 2a + 3a = (2 + 3)a = 5a.

Front

What is the result of combining the like terms -r and -10r?

Back

The result is -11r, since -r + (-10r) = -11r.

Front

How do you simplify the expression 3 + 12c - 4c?

Back

Combine the like terms 12c and -4c to get 8c, so the expression simplifies to 8c + 3.

Front

What is the simplified form of the expression 4x^2 - 3x + 11 - 2x?

Back

The simplified form is 4x^2 - 5x + 11, combining -3x and -2x.

Front

How do you combine the terms 2x + 1 + 7x?

Back

Combine the like terms 2x and 7x to get 9x, so the expression simplifies to 9x + 1.

Front

What is the first step in combining like terms?

Back

Identify and group all the like terms in the expression.

Front

Can constants be combined with variable terms?

Back

No, constants cannot be combined with variable terms. They are considered different types of terms.

Front

What is the coefficient in the term 5x?

Back

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