Combining Like Terms

Combining Like Terms Review

8th Grade Pre-Algebra

​What is a "like term"?

​"Like terms" have the exact same variable raised to the exact same power.

​Like Terms

2x and 3x

​

​These are like terms because they both have an x to the first power!

​Not Like Terms

8m and 3m²

​

​These are not like terms because the both have an m but now to the same power!

​Combining Like Terms

​Combining like terms allows us to add or subtract terms that have the same variable to the same power (exponent).

​Combining Like Terms

​6m + 2p + 3 + 4p - 2m + 4

​6m - 2m + 2p + 4p + 3 + 4

​

​Once you have identified like terms, rewrite the expression putting the like terms together.

​Combining Like Terms

​6m - 2m + 2p + 4p + 3 + 4

= ​4m + 6p + 7

​

​Now your expression has been simplified and this is your answer since there are no more like terms to combine.

​

​Then add your coefficients and keep the variables for each group of the like terms.

Practice​

​You may use a whiteboard and a calculator if needed.

Fill in the Blanks

7y+2y

Fill in the Blanks

-8d+8d

Fill in the Blanks

12a-5a

Fill in the Blanks

-5c-6c

Fill in the Blanks

4p-11p

Fill in the Blanks

2h-9h+5h

Multiple Choice

8x-10x+x

• 2x

• -x

• -2x

• x

Fill in the Blanks

11q+8-q

Fill in the Blanks

-4k-7+5k

Fill in the Blanks

7m-10-4m+3

Fill in the Blanks

-5n+1-8n-6

Fill in the Blanks

8r-9-2r-1

Fill in the Blanks

12-6z-5+10z

Multiple Choice

6w-12-w+11

• 5w-1

• 5w+1

• 7w-1

• 7w+1

Multiple Choice

5x + 3y + 5 + 4x + 3y + y + 8

• 9x + 7y + 13
• 6x + 2y + 2
• 25x + 2y + 3
• x + 7y + 12

Multiple Choice

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

• -3x² - 11
• 3x² + 11
• 11 - 3x
• 11 + 3x

Multiple Choice

Simplify the following expression:
(5 + 4x) + (2x - 8)

• 13 + 6x
• 6x - 3
• 6x - 13
• 6x + 3

Multiple Choice

Simplify by combining like terms:
5a + 2b - 3a + 4

• 8a + 2b + 4
• 2a + 2b + 4
• 8ab
• 4ab + 4

Multiple Choice

Simplify the expression: 2x + 1 + 7x 

• 10x
• 10
• 9x + 1
• 9 + 1x

Multiple Choice

Combine like terms
3x + 2x + 3y - 7y

• 5x + 10y
• 5x + 4y
• 5x - 4y
• 5x -10y

Multiple Choice

7 - 5m - 10m

• 7 + 15m

• 7 + 5m

• 7 - 5m

• 7 - 15m

Multiple Choice

-3x + 11y - 4x

• 7x + 11y

• -7x + 11y

• 7x - 11y

• 4xy