Combining Like Terms

1
Combining Like Terms
2
Vocabulary

• 6a2 5ab 3b - 12
• Terms are the parts of a variable expression
  separated by addition or subtraction signs.
• Constants are terms that do not have variables.
• Coefficients are numerical factors of a term.

3
What exactly is a like term?

• Like terms have exactly the same variable
  factors.
• Examples 3 2 5 4b 2b 6b(4 bananas
  2 bananas 6 bananas)

4
Why do you need to know about like terms?

• Combining like terms will make the expression
  easier to evaluate using order of operations.
• Ask yourself does this expression have like
  terms?
• If it does, combine the variables!

5
Example 1

• Simplify the expression
• 7y 6y
• 13y

6
Example 2

• Simplify the expression
• 4t y
• 4t y
• If the expression cant be simplified, just
  leave it as it was.