are negative numbers and positive numbers like terms

Question

I need to know this I drew a blank

Answer 1

Terms of an expression that are strictly numbers (and not coefficients) can be collected (combined) into a single number.

 

When numbers (regardless of their sign) are coefficients, the idea of LIKEness pertains to identical spelling, if you will, of the combination of letters (variables) immediately following the coefficients.

 

Thus 4a - 6a + a are LIKE terms and may be combined as -a.

 

One more example: 4x - 7 -3x + 8 = x + 1; the CONSTANTS were combined (8-7) and the x-related terms were combined (by combining their coefficients).