Collecting like terms

What are like terms in algebra?

Are these like terms?

12a and 3a

• True

• False

• Yes

• No

Simplify the expression by collecting like terms:

5a + 2a + 3a

Simply the expression by collecting like terms: 9mn - 7mn

Simply the expression by collecting like terms: 10y - 3y + 2y

Answer explanation

The like term is "y". We collect these "y" terms by adding and subtracting the numbers in front of "y": 10 - 3 + 2 = 9.

So we got 9y.

Simply the expression which has negative numbers: 3a - 10a

Answer explanation

The like term is "a". So we subtrating the numbers in front of "a": 3 - 10 = -7.

So we got -7a.

Simply the expression which has negative numbers: 7a - 12a

Simply the expression which has negative numbers: 6a - 7a

Answer explanation

The like term is "a". We collect like terms by subtracing the numbers in front of "a": 6-7 = -1.

We got -1a, but we write it as "-a".

Simply the expression which has negative numbers: 8x - (-2x)

Answer explanation

8x - (-2x) = 8x + 2x = 10x