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 3x^2 are not.

Front

How do you combine like terms?

Back

To combine like terms, you add or subtract the coefficients of the terms that are alike. For example, 3x + 5x = (3 + 5)x = 8x.

Front

What is the result of 3x - 5x?

Back

-2x

Front

What is the result of 3b + b - 2b?

Back

2b

Front

Simplify: -8x + 4x

Back

-4x

Front

What is the result of -4x - 10x?

Back

-14x

Front

Simplify the expression: 3 + 5x + 8 - 2x

Back

11 + 3x

Front

What is a coefficient in an algebraic expression?

Back

A coefficient is a numerical factor in a term of an algebraic expression. For example, in 4x, 4 is the coefficient.

Front

What does it mean to simplify an expression?

Back

To simplify an expression means to combine like terms and reduce it to its simplest form.

Front

What is the difference between like terms and unlike terms?

Back

Like terms have the same variable and exponent, while unlike terms do not. For example, 2x and 3x are like terms, but 2x and 3y are unlike terms.