Like Terms #29

Like terms

Like Terms are numbers that either have the same variable next to it with the same exponent or no variable at all.

Combining Like Terms

When combining like terms you always consider the signs that are present such as parenthesis, exponents, multiplication, division, addition or subtraction signs or PEMDAS.

Open Ended

What do you find difficult about coefficients, variables, or like terms?

1.identify the common variable

2. add the x coefficients because they are like terms and have the same variable and exponent.

Steps

2x+3x = 5x

​Example

Adding Like Terms

Subtract Like Terms

1.identify the like terms or common variable. In this case it is the letter i

2. subtract the coefficients, or numbers in front of the letters i.

3.Since the number -18i is negative or subtracting and bigger than 5i the answer will have the same sign as -18i after subtracting the values.

Steps

5i-18i = -13i

Example

Multiplying Like Terms

-When multiplying like terms, you can begin by multiplying the coefficients. Then the variables need to also be multiplied, since they both have an exponent of one, you add one plus one and get two. Or in this case you get a²

Steps

13a ⋅ 3a = 39a²

Example

Dividing like terms

-When dividing terms with the same variables you subtract the exponents. Both 48h and 4h have variables h with an exponent of 1. So 1 - 1 on the exponents h equals 0, and the h variable disappears. Don't forget you must divide the coefficients 48 and 4 which equals 12.

Steps

48h ÷ 4h = 12

Example