Combining Like Terms with Rational Numbers

Combining like terms is the process of simplifying an expression by adding or subtracting terms that have the same variable raised to the same power.

Like terms are terms in an expression that have the same variable(s) raised to the same power. For example, $$3x$$ and $$5x$$ are like terms.

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

$$-\frac{6}{5}x$$ .

$$1.5x + 9.4y$$ .

$$-8x^2 + 2x$$ .

$$\frac{6}{5}y$$ .

$$-\frac{17}{2}w$$ .

Coefficients are the numerical factors in front of the variables. When combining like terms, you add or subtract the coefficients while keeping the variable part the same.

To combine terms with rational coefficients, convert the coefficients to a common denominator if necessary, then add or subtract them as you would with whole numbers.