Like terms are terms that contain the same variable with the same exponent. Constant terms are like terms because they do not have any variables.
Here are some examples of like terms:
Some examples of terms that are not like terms are:
Two terms that are like terms may be combined into one term by adding or subtracting.
Very often, we would need to combine like terms when solving equations.
How to solve equations by combining like terms?Example:
Solve 6x – 4x – 3 = 11
Solution:
6x – 4x – 3 = 11
2x – 3 = 11 (combine like terms)
2x – 3 + 3 = 11 + 3 (add 3 to both sides)
2x = 14 (divide 2 on both sides)
x = 7
Check:
6x – 4x – 3 = 11
(6 • 7) – (4 • 7) – 3 = 11 (substitute x = 7 into the original equation)
Example:
Solve x + 2x – 7 = 5
Solution:
x + 2x – 7 = 5
3x – 7 = 5 (combine like terms)
3x – 7 + 7 = 5 + 7 (add 7 to both sides)
3x = 12 (Divide both sides by 3)
x = 4
Check:
x + 2x – 7 = 5
4 + 8 – 7 = 5 (substitute x = 4 into the original equation)
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