Examples Like terms are terms that contain the same variables raised to the same power. Only the coefficents are different. Like terms Unlike terms 5x and -3x 2x 2 and 14x 2 -3 ab and ab 5 and -3x 2x and 14x 2 -a2 b and 12 ab
To combine like terms, add the coefficients and keep the variables and the powers the same. Only like terms with the same variables to the same powers can be combined. EXACTLY
3x + 4x = (3 + 4)x = 7x Simplify the expression: Yes, they have the same variable raised to the same power. 3 x 1 + 4 x 1 Are these like terms? Like terms can be simplified using the distributive property. ? 3x + 4x
Find like terms x 1 2 x 2 y 2x 2 -xy 2 3xy 2 x -3x 2 -4x 5x 2 xy 2 x 2 y 2
x 2 y 2 Like terms Like terms Like terms Not like terms Solution x 1 2 x 2 y 2x 2 x -3x 2 -4x 5x 2 -xy 2 3xy 2 xy 2
Simplify by combining like terms 2x 2 y + x 2 y - 2x 2 y = (___+___-___)x = ____x 2 y 4x 3 - x 3 - 6x 3 = (___-___-___)x 3 = ___x 3 6x 2 - x 2 = (___-___)x 2 = ____x 2 -3x 3 1x 2 y or x 2 y 5x 2