Recall that:
Like terms are those terms that contain the same pronumeral or
pronumerals.
For example, 8x and 10x are like terms because they contain
the same pronumeral in x. Likewise, 8xy and 10xy
are like terms because they contain the same pronumerals (i.e. xy).
Clearly, 8xz and 10yz are not like terms because although
both terms contain the pronumeral z, the other pronumeral in each
term is different. Terms with different pronumerals are called unlike
terms.
Further Addition (or Subtraction) of Like Terms
Recall that:
Algebraic expressions containing like terms may be simplified by adding
(or subtracting) the like terms.
Note that the expression 3x + 2xy + 5xyz can not be
simplified because it consists of three unlike terms.
Example 8
Solution:
Example 9
Solution:
Example 10
Solution:
Key Terms
like terms, unlike terms
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