I do not understand how to combine like terms can someone tell me the basics im a 9th grader

Question

can someone please explain to me how to do like terms please?

Answer 1

In Algebra, a "term" is:

• a single number, such as 5 or -17
• a variable that may be raised to a power, such as x or x² or y or y^-3
• combinations of numbers and variables multiplied together: 7x², -3y, etc.

 

"Like terms" are terms with the same variable and exponent.  They may be multiplied by different numbers.

• 7x and 2x are like terms because the variables are both "x"
• 7x and 7x² are NOT like terms (they are Unlike Terms)
• 6xy² and -2xy² are also like terms because the have the same variables and exponents (xy²)
• 6xy² and -2x²y are NOT like-terms because they have different exponents (x²y and xy²)

 

In algebra, you can add and subtract like-terms:

 

5x²y + 4y - 2x²y + 2y²

 

The like terms are 5x²y and 2x²y, so we can add and subtract them:

 

5x²y - 2x²y + 4y + 2y² = 3x²y + 4y + 2y²