Edward C. answered • 02/10/15
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Caltech Grad for math tutoring: Algebra through Calculus
Like terms are terms that have the same variables and powers. So for example, in the expression
3x^2 + 4x + 5x^2 + 7x^2 + 17x + 23
the 3x^2, 5x^2 and 7x^2 are like terms, and
the 4x and 17x are like terms
Like terms can be combined to simplify an expression, so the above expression is equal to
15x^2 + 21x + 23
