Combining Like Terms

Front

What does it mean to combine like terms in an expression?

Back

Combining like terms means to simplify an expression by adding or subtracting terms that have the same variable raised to the same power.

Front

What are like terms?

Back

Like terms are terms in an expression that have the same variable(s) and exponent(s). For example, 3a and 5a are like terms, while 3a and 4b are not.

Front

How do you identify like terms in an expression?

Back

To identify like terms, look for terms that have the same variable(s) and exponent(s). For instance, in the expression 2x + 3y + 4x, 2x and 4x are like terms.

Front

What is the first step in simplifying an expression by combining like terms?

Back

The first step is to group the like terms together in the expression.

Front

If you have the expression 5a + 2b - 3a + 4, what are the like terms?

Back

The like terms are 5a and -3a, and the constant term is 4.

Front

What is the simplified form of the expression 5a + 2b - 3a + 4?

Back

The simplified form is 2a + 2b + 4.

Front

In the expression n - 10 + 9n - 3, what are the like terms?

Back

The like terms are n and 9n, and the constant terms are -10 and -3.

Front

What is the simplified form of the expression n - 10 + 9n - 3?

Back

The simplified form is 10n - 13.

Front

How do you combine the terms -6k and 7k?

Back

You combine them by adding their coefficients: -6 + 7 = 1, so the result is k.

Front

What is the result of combining the terms -4x and -10x?

Back

The result is -14x, since -4 + (-10) = -14.