Combining Like Terms in Algebra

This video tutorial explains expressions and how to simplify them by combining like terms. It covers the definition of terms, like terms, and the process of combining them using coefficients. The tutorial includes examples and practice problems to reinforce understanding. Key points are recapped at the end to ensure comprehension.

What defines like terms in an expression?

• Terms that are separated by a plus or minus sign

• Terms that have the same variable and exponent

• Terms that are all constants

• Terms that have different coefficients

Which of the following are like terms?

• 5x and 5y

• 3m^2 and 3m

• 18m^3n^2 and 73m^3n^2

• b^3c^2 and b^2c^3

How do you combine the terms 5k and 2k?

• Cannot combine

• 5k + 2k = 7k

• 5k / 2k = 2.5k

• 5k - 2k = 3k

What is the result of combining 6m and -2m?

• 6m

• -4m

• 4m

• 8m

Identify the like terms in the expression 6m - 2m + 2p + 4p + 3 + 4.

• 6m and 2m; 2p and 4p; 3 and 4

• 6m and 2p; 4p and 3

• All terms are like terms

• 2m and 4p; 3 and 4

What is the simplified form of the expression 6m - 2m + 2p + 4p + 3 + 4?

• 8m + 6p + 7

• 4m + 6p + 7

• 8m + 8p + 7

• 4m + 6p + 12

How do you combine the terms 8x^2y and 70x^2y?

• 78x^2y

• Cannot be combined

• 8x^2y - 70x^2y

• 8x^2 + 70x^2y

What is the result of combining 9xy^2 and 41xy^2?

• 9xy^2 + 41xy^2

• 50x^2y

• 32xy^2

• 50xy^2

What is a common mistake when combining terms like 5x and -2x?

• Ignoring the variable

• Multiplying the coefficients

• Adding the exponents

• Forgetting to subtract the coefficients

What should you be careful about when identifying like terms?

• The type of arithmetic operation between them

• The color of the terms in textbooks

• The signs in front of the terms

• The order of the terms