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 + 5x = (3 + 5)x = 8x.

Front

Simplify: 7t - 3t + t - 3t

Back

2t

Front

Simplify: 23s + 23d + 4s - 4d

Back

27s + 19d

Front

Simplify: x + 3x + 6x + x

Back

11x

Front

Simplify: 4k + 6k - 3k + 3s - s

Back

7k + 2s

Front

Simplify: 8q + 3q - 6t + 2q - 4q

Back

9q - 6t

Front

What is the coefficient in the term 5x?

Back

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

Front

What happens when you combine unlike terms?

Back

Unlike terms cannot be combined. For example, 3x and 4y remain as 3x + 4y.

Front

What is the first step in simplifying an expression?

Back

Identify and group like terms together.