Chapter 5 · Expressions · page 23 of 68
Like terms
levelGrade 6
standard6.EE.A.3
practiceLike terms and distributing
Like terms have exactly the same variable part. 3x and 5x are like terms. 3x and 5 are not. 3x and 3x² are not. You combine like terms by adding their coefficients and keeping the variable part.
How to use it
- Group terms with the same variable part. Keep each term’s sign with it.
- Add the coefficients in each group.
- Write the groups out. Unlike terms stay separate.
Example
Where it goes wrong
- Combining x terms with plain numbers. 3x + 5 does not become 8x.
- Making the variable disappear. 3x + 5x is 8x, not 8.