Allen S. answered • 01/15/15
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Like terms in algebra is similar to like terms in adding fractions. You can't add fractions without them having the same denominator. Likewise, you can't add terms unless they are similar. The problem:
12r + 5 + 3r - 5
has 2 different types of terms. Regular numbers +5 and -5, and something else +12r and +3r. The terms 12r and 3r really mean (12*r) and (3*r). That really means you have 12 "ars" and 3 "ars". The numbers 12 and 3 are called "coefficients". The r is called a "variable". To combine the like terms, line up the problem differently.
12r + 3r + 5 - 5
Looking at +5 and -5 you can see that equals 0, so:
12r + 3r + 0
12r + 3r
When adding like terms, you just add the coefficients, and leave the variable as part of the answer.
12 + 3 = 15 so
12r + 3r = 15r
Note: When adding or subtracting like terms, just because they all have the same variable, doesn't always mean they are the same term. If the problem was 12r + 5 + 3r2 - 5, the 12r and 3r2 are not like terms, and therefore cannot be added together.
