Combining Like Terms

Front

What are like terms?

Back

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 4y are not.

Front

How do you combine like terms?

Back

To combine like terms, add or subtract the coefficients of the terms that have the same variable. For example, 3x + 2x = (3 + 2)x = 5x.

Front

Simplify: 3 + 12c - 4c

Back

8c + 3

Front

Collect like terms: 4y + 8d - 2y + 3d

Back

11d + 2y

Front

Simplify: 3x + 2x + 3y - 7y

Back

5x - 4y

Front

Simplify: 5a + 2b - 3a + 4

Back

2a + 2b + 4

Front

Simplify: 7v + 2 + 12 + 2v

Back

9v + 14

Front

What is the coefficient in the term 5x?

Back

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

Front

What is a constant term?

Back

A constant term is a term that does not contain any variables. For example, in the expression 3x + 5, the number 5 is a constant term.

Front

What happens when you combine terms with different variables?

Back

You cannot combine terms with different variables. For example, 3x + 4y cannot be simplified further.