This page presents Grade 6 examples and practice questions on adding and subtracting like terms in algebra. Below are detailed step-by-step solutions and clear explanations to help students master simplifying expressions.
In an algebraic expression, like terms are all terms with the same variable raised to the same powers.
1) \( 2x , \; 4x , \; x , \; \text{and } 10x \) are all like terms with coefficients \( 2, \; 4, \; 1, \; \text{and } 10 \) respectively. The power of the variable \( x \) must be the same.
2) In the algebraic expression: \[ 2x + 7x - 6 + 4x^{2} - 6x \], the terms \( 2x, \; 7x, \; \text{and } -6x \) are all like terms (power of 1). Note that \( 4x^2 \) is not a like term.
Like terms can be added and subtracted by adding their coefficients.
3) Simplify: \( 3x + 10 + 5x - 6x - 4 \)
Group like terms: \( = (3x + 5x - 6x) + (10 - 4) \)
Factor out the variable: \( = (3 + 5 - 6)x + (10 - 4) = 2x + 6 \)
4) Use distributive property to simplify: \( 2(x - 3) + 3(x + 1) \)
Expand: \( 2x - 6 + 3x + 3 \)
Group like terms: \( = (2x + 3x) + (-6 + 3) = 5x - 3 \)
What are the like terms and their coefficients in each of the following expressions?
Simplify the following expressions:
Simplify and identify the equivalent expressions:
Simplified forms:
Equivalent: (a & c), (b & e), (d & f).
Use the distributive property then simplify: