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Combining Like Terms Notes

1) The document discusses combining like terms in algebraic expressions. It defines terms and different types of terms. 2) It provides a checklist for combining like terms which includes changing subtraction to addition and identifying and combining terms with the same variables or numbers. 3) Several examples are worked out step-by-step to demonstrate combining like terms in expressions containing variables, numbers, and operations.

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850 views

Combining Like Terms Notes

1) The document discusses combining like terms in algebraic expressions. It defines terms and different types of terms. 2) It provides a checklist for combining like terms which includes changing subtraction to addition and identifying and combining terms with the same variables or numbers. 3) Several examples are worked out step-by-step to demonstrate combining like terms in expressions containing variables, numbers, and operations.

Uploaded by

api-310102170
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Combining

Like Terms

Notes
Combining Like Terms

Term: a number, a variable, or a product of a number and


a variable.
Types of Terms:
1. Constant Terms (just numbers): 2, 5, , -0.3
2. Variable Terms (terms with variables): 4x, 3b, -12y

You can combine all constant terms, as well as all variable
terms if they share the same variable.

You cannot combine constant terms with variable terms,
or variable terms with different variables.
Checklist for Combining Like Terms

1. Change all subtraction symbols into addition using


KCC (keep first #, change subtraction to addition,
change sign of second number)

2. Identify the like terms (circling, boxing, grouping,


rewriting, etc.)

3. Combine the like terms first

4. Re-write the expression with operation signs
Practice
Identify and combine the like terms:

2x + 3 + 5x + 7

2x and 5x, 3 and 7


7x + 10



Practice
Identify and combine the like terms:

14 6x + 2x 15

KCC:

14 + -6x + 2x + -15

14 and -15; -6x and 2x


-1 + -4x or -1 4x
Practice: Combining Like Terms
Identify and combine the like terms:

1. -4x + 4 13
-4x; 4 and 13 -4x + -9 or -4x 9

2. x + 2x 3x + 5
x, 2x, -3x; 5 -x + 5

3. 3 + 4b + 17 4a
3 and 17; 4b; -4a 20 + 4b 4a



Practice: Combining Like Terms

1. 27 3x + 15x 4 + 22
27 + -3x + 15x + -4 + 22
-3x and 15x; 27, -4, and 22
-12x + 45

2. 15y + -3 2y + 14x 12x

15y + -3 + -2y + 14x + -12x

15y and -2y; 14x and -12x; -3

13y + 2x + -3 or 13y + 2x 3

Practice
Simplify the expression by combining the like
terms:

4b + 3 5b + 12 6

KCC: 4b + 3 + -5b + 12 +-6

Like terms: 4b, -5b; 3, 12, and -6


-1b; 9
-1b + 9 , b + 9, 9 + -b, or 9 b

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