combining like terms

Question

State whether the given pair of expressions are like terms. If they are like terms, add them.
2x^4, 4x^4

 

 

 

Their sum is:

Answer 1

Let's substitute y for x⁴.

 

We then have 2y + 4y. We can simplify this to 6y. 

 

Let's resubstitute x⁴ for y so we end up with 6x⁴

Answer 2

2x⁴ + 4x⁴ = 6x⁴