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 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 combine the terms 3x + 2x?

Back

You add the coefficients of the like terms: 3x + 2x = (3 + 2)x = 5x.

Front

What is the result of combining the terms 11y - 7y?

Back

The result is 4y, since 11y - 7y = (11 - 7)y = 4y.

Front

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

Back

The first step is to identify and group all the like terms together.

Front

If you have the expression 3x^2 - 5x^2 + 8x - x - 5, what is the simplified form?

Back

The simplified form is -2x^2 + 7x - 5.

Front

What is the coefficient in the term 9n?

Back

The coefficient in the term 9n is 9.

Front

How do you combine the expression n + 10 + 9n - 3?

Back

Combine like terms: n + 9n = 10n and 10 - 3 = 7, so the result is 10n + 7.

Front

What is the equivalent expression for v + v + v + v + v?

Back

The equivalent expression is 5v.

Front

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

Back

The result is -11r, since -r - 10r = (-1 - 10)r = -11r.