Add or subtract like terms. Arrange the terms alphabetically, with exponents on the first variable in descending order. Then, identify each answer as a monomi

Question

1. Add or subtract like terms.  Arrange the terms alphabetically, with exponents on the first variable in descending order.  Then, identify each answer as a monomial, a binomial, a trinomial, or a polynomial with more than three terms.

a)  a - 7c - 3d + 3a + 4d - 2c

b)  5m - 3p + 11n - 9p + 8m -6n

c)  9y + 7y + 11y + 6y - 2y

Answer 1

Hi, Tracy.

Like terms are the ones that have the same variables raised to the same powers. We add or subtract like terms by adding or subtracting the coefficients, that is, the number in front. If no number is written, it is understood to be 1.

Here is your first problem, with the like terms highlighted. Notice that I included the leading sign with each term.

a - 7c - 3d + 3a + 4d - 2c

We can rearrange them to put the like terms together, making it a little easier to combine:

a + 3a - 7c - 2c - 3d + 4d                  Remember that a is the same as 1a

4a - 9c + d             

The terms are arranged alphabetically already. There are 3 terms, so this is a trinomial.

I'll bet you can do the other two now.