Combining Like Terms in Algebra

The video tutorial explains how to combine like terms in algebraic expressions. Like terms are defined as terms with the same variable factors, allowing them to be added or subtracted by manipulating their coefficients. The distributive property is used to demonstrate this process. Examples are provided using variables X, Y, N, and R, illustrating how to factor out variables and combine coefficients. The tutorial emphasizes the importance of identifying like terms and warns against combining terms with different variable factors.

What are like terms?

• Terms with different coefficients

• Terms with different variables

• Terms with the same variable factors

• Terms with the same coefficients

How do you combine like terms?

• Multiply the coefficients

• Divide the coefficients

• Add or subtract the coefficients

• Add or subtract the variables

What is the result of combining 5x and 3x?

• 8x

• 5x

• 2x

• 15x

What is the simplified form of -3y + 9y - 8y?

• -2y

• 2y

• 0

• 4y

What happens to the variable part when combining like terms?

• It disappears

• It remains the same

• It doubles

• It changes

What is the result of combining 12n^3 and -9n^3?

• 0

• -3n^3

• 21n^3

• 3n^3

Which terms can be combined in the expression 15r^5 - 18r^5 - 9r^4?

• All terms

• Only 15r^5 and -18r^5

• Only -18r^5 and -9r^4

• None of the terms

What is the result of combining 15r^5 and -18r^5?

• -3r^5

• 3r^5

• 33r^5

• 0

Why can't -9r^4 be combined with 15r^5 and -18r^5?

• It has a different power of r

• It has a different variable

• It has a different coefficient

• It is not a term

What should you be careful about when combining terms?

• Combining terms with the same powers

• Combining terms with different powers

• Combining terms with different variables

• Combining terms with different coefficients