Combine 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) 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 5a and 4a?

Back

You add the coefficients of the like terms: 5a + 4a = (5 + 4)a = 9a.

Front

What is the result of combining the terms 2b and -7b?

Back

2b + (-7b) = (2 - 7)b = -5b.

Front

What is the simplified form of the expression 3t + 7y + t + 3y?

Back

The simplified form is 4t + 10y.

Front

What is the result of -6k + 7k?

Back

The result is k, since -6k + 7k = (7 - 6)k = 1k = k.

Front

How do you simplify the expression 3 + 5x + 8 - 2x?

Back

Combine the constant terms and the like terms: (3 + 8) + (5x - 2x) = 11 + 3x.

Front

What is the simplified form of 3x + 2x + 3y - 7y?

Back

The simplified form is 5x - 4y.

Front

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

Back

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

Front

Can you combine terms with different variables? Why or why not?

Back

No, you cannot combine terms with different variables because they represent different quantities.