Collecting Like Terms
Like terms have the same letter part — group them together and add or subtract the coefficients.
Like terms are terms that have exactly the same variable part. For example, and are like terms, but and are not.
To simplify an expression, collect the like terms by adding or subtracting their coefficients:
Think of it like grouping objects: 3 apples plus 5 apples is 8 apples. Constants (plain numbers) are also like terms with each other.
Use the algebra tiles to visualise an expression. The tall tiles represent and the small squares represent units. Try different combinations to see the simplified expression.
Watch it work
Question: Simplify .
Step 1: Group the terms: .
Step 2: Group the terms: .
Answer:
Have a go
Q1. Simplify .
Both are terms: .
Q2. Simplify .
terms: . terms: .
Q3. Simplify .
terms: . Constants: .
Q4. Simplify .
terms: . terms: .