Combining Like Terms

Vocabulary

100

In an expression, the parts being added together or subtracted. Example: 4x + 3x + 3y + 7y

What is a term?

200

Terms that contain the same variable(s) raised to the same exponent. These terms can be combined. Example: 3x + 9x or 7y + 3Y

What are like terms?

300

A numerical value attached to a variable 

What is a coefficient?

400

A term without a variable

What a constant?

500

A symbol, usually a letter of the alphabet, used to represent a quantity that can change.

What is a variable?

Combining (Addition)

100

8a + 15a + a + 9

What is 24a + 9

200

5x + 35 + 3x + 2

What is 8x + 37

300

32 + 12t + 16t + 8

What is 28t + 40

400

6p + 32 + 16p + 2 + 4p

What is 26p + 34

500

m + 20n + 25m + 6n

What is 26m + 26n

Combining (Subtraction)

100

21b - 11b - 10 - 12b

What is -2b - 10

200

12c - 6c +30

What is 6c + 30

300

5z - 55 - 26 - z

What is 4z - 81

400

-7d +40 + 8d

What is d + 40

500

-15j - 18k - 24j - 18k

What is -39j - 36k

Distribute

100

3(2x+7)

What is 6x+21

200

-4(x+9)

What is -4x-36

300

-9(4x-5y)

What is -36x+45

400

-(4y+9)

What is -4y-9

500

-8(3x+7y-2)

What is -24x-56y+16

Distribute and Combine

100

3(x+4) -5

What is 3x+7

200

8(x-5) -10x

What is -2x-40

300

7 -(2+2b)

What is 5-2b or 

400

-5(3x-6y)+7x-8y

-8x+22y

500

3(4x-2)-5(2x+3)

2x-21