Sectieoverzicht

  • Like and unlike are not only actions for Facebook posts. In Maths, only like terms can be combined when adding or subtracting algebraic expressions. Like terms have the same variables, raised to the same power and it is only the coefficients that are different. 

    Example

    \( { x}^{2} \) and \(-2\)\( { x}^{2} \) are like terms because they have the same variable raised to the same power.

    \( { x}^{2} \) and \(-2\)\( { x}^{3} \) are unlike terms because the variable has different exponents.

    Try the next exercise to test your understanding of like terms.

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      Exercise: Like or unlike?


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      Collecting like terms

      We can add and subtract like terms to simplify or shorten an algebraic expression. 

      3x cubed and 5 x cubed are like terms and 4 x y and 6 y x are like terms

      When you add or subtract like terms, the variables and exponents in the terms don't change. You only need to add/subtract the coefficients. 

      We can rewrite \(-3 { x}^{3}+4xy-5{x}^{3}+6yx\) as \(-8{x}^{3}+10xy\) by collecting the like terms.

      For more examples on adding like terms watch the next video. 

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      Exercise: Combining like terms

      The more you practise, the quicker you will become at adding and subtracting like terms. Practise your skills by doing this exercise, Combining like terms.