How do you combine like terms???/

Question

I'm confused on to combine like terms

Answer 1

First, lets talk about what  like terms are. When we talk about like terms in math, we are talking about two terms that have the same number of EACH variable.

EXAMPLES:

 

2xy and 5xy are like terms because they each have 1 x and 1 y

 

x and x² are NOT like terms because the first term has 1 x and the second has 2

 

4xy² and 7y²x are Like terms because they each have 1 x and 2 y

 

4 and 5 are Like terms because they don't have any variables

 

Usually in an equation, there are many terms added and subtracted from each other. "combining like terms" means identifying any like terms and either adding or subtracting them (depending on what the equation says)

 

EX.

 

            4+2x-x²-1+3x+2x² 

1. identify like terms (I have color-coded)

 

4+2x-x²-1+3x+2x²

 

2. Rearrange to put like terms next to each other

 

4-1+2x+3x-x²+2x²

 

3. Add/subtract like terms

 

3+5x+x²

 

Comment if you need more help