Simplifying Polynomial Expressions: Combining Like Terms

The video tutorial explains how to simplify polynomial expressions by combining like terms. It demonstrates the process of identifying like terms using color-coded highlighting, rewriting terms to group them, and then combining them to simplify the expression. The tutorial provides examples to illustrate the process, ensuring that the exponents remain unchanged during addition or subtraction. The final example shows how terms can cancel each other out, leading to a simplified expression.

What is the first step in simplifying a polynomial?

• Multiplying the terms

• Dividing the terms

• Combining like terms

• Changing the signs of the terms

Which terms are considered like terms in the first example?

• Plus 5x and plus 3

• Negative 2x squared and minus 3x squared

• Minus 9x and plus 3

• Negative 2x squared and plus 5x

What is the purpose of using different highlighters in the example?

• To rewrite the polynomial

• To change the signs of the terms

• To identify and group like terms

• To make the text colorful

What is the next step after identifying like terms?

• Multiplying the terms

• Dividing the terms

• Rewriting the terms while preserving their signs

• Changing the exponents

How do you rewrite the terms in the first example?

• By dividing them

• By changing their signs

• By multiplying them

• By grouping them by term

What is the result of combining negative 2x squared and minus 3x squared?

• Positive 5x squared

• Negative 1x squared

• Positive 1x squared

• Negative 5x squared

What happens to the exponents when combining like terms?

• They are added together

• They are subtracted

• They remain the same

• They are divided

What is the simplified form of the first example?

• Negative 5x squared minus 4x minus 3

• Positive 5x squared minus 4x plus 3

• Negative 5x squared plus 4x minus 3

• Negative 5x squared minus 4x plus 3

What is the result of 2x squared minus 2x squared in the second example?

• 0

• Negative 2x squared

• 4x squared

• 2x squared

What is the simplified form of the second example?

• Negative 5x cubed plus x

• Negative 5x cubed minus 2x

• Negative 5x cubed minus x

• Negative 5x cubed plus 2x