Combining Like Terms

Combining Like Terms

What is a term?

• Terms are numbers and variables separated by a sign such as + - or =

• 2x + 3 = 7

• There are 3 terms in this equation

• 2x, 3, and 7

What does "Like" Mean?

• "Like" means what is the same

• in 2x + x, x is the same in each term

• So, they can be combined

• 2x + x can be simplified to 3x

Combining means that you put the terms together.

• I can combine 3c + 4c + c

• 8c

• Because each term has the variable c

• The variable is any letter in an equation

• I can't combine 3c + 2x because the variables are not the same

Here are Examples

• 3x + 4x = 7x

• 2 + 3 = 5 ( you can combine numbers)

• 3x + 2 + 4x + 3 simplifies to 7x + 5

Try the Combining Like Terms Practice