Collect Like Terms
To simplify an expression is to find an equivalent, simpler, and shorter expression.
Like terms are terms that have the same variable(s) and exponent(s).
Example 1: Sort the following into groups of like terms.
Like terms
2,-5 and 6 The rest are unlike terms
3u2 and 2u2
2x,5x and 3x
4a2 and -a2
102b and -3ab2 are not like terms even though they have the same variables (exponents are different).
When collecting like terms,
- group or identify like terms
- add or subtract like terms only
- apply integer rules to the coefficients of like terms
- do not change the variable parts
Example 2: Simplify the expression 6x + 4 + 8x + 3
Example 3: Simplify the following
Simplified expressions should be written in either ascending or descending order by exponents.
Usually, with the greatest degree term first and the leastdegree term last.
Example 4: Simplify
Example 5: Complete the following table
Order an Essay Now & Get These Features For Free:
Turnitin Report
Formatting
Title Page
Citation
Outline
