1. Learn to combine like terms in an expression.

2. Terms in an expression are the little groups of a number and letter separated by plus or minus signs.
Like terms are groups that have the exact same letter and the exact same exponent. If they do, they can be added or subtracted

3. Additional Example 1: Combining Like Terms To Simplify
Combine like terms.
A. 14a – 5a
Identify like terms. 9a
Combine coefficients: 14 – 5 = 9
Identify like terms ; the coefficient of y is 1, because 1y = y.
B. 7y + 8 – 3y – 1 + y
Combine coefficients: 7 – = 5 and 8 – 1 = 7
5y + 7

4. Try This: Example 1 Combine like terms. A. 4q – q 3q
Identify like terms; the coefficient of q is 1, because 1q = q.
A. 4q – q 3q
Combine coefficients: 4 – 1 = 3
Identify like terms; the coefficient of c is 1, because 1c = c.
B. 5c + 8 – 4c – 2 – c
Combine coefficients: 5 – 4 – 1 = 0 and 8 – 2 = 6 6

5. Additional Example 2A: Combining Like Terms in Two-Variables Expressions
Combine like terms.
A. 9x + 3y – 2x + 5
9x + 3y – 2x + 5
Identify like terms.
7x + 3y + 5
Combine coefficients: 9 – 2 = 7

6. Additional Example 2B: Combining Like Terms in Two-Variable Expressions
Combine like terms.
B. 5t + 7p – 3p – 2t
5t + 7p – 3p – 2t
Identify like terms.
Combine coefficients: 5 – 2 = 3 and 7 – 3= 4
3t + 4p

7. Additional Example 2C: Combining Like Terms in Two-Variable Expressions
Combine like terms.
C. 4m + 9n – 2
4m + 9n – 2
No like terms.

8. Try This: Example 2 Combine like terms. 2x + 5x – 4x2 + 3
A. 2x + 5x – 4x2 + 3
2x + 5x – 4x2 + 3
Identify like terms.
7x – 4x2 + 3
Combine coefficients: = 7
B. 9c3 + 7c2 – 4c3 – 2c2
9c3 + 7c2 – 4c3 – 2c2
Identify like terms.
5c3 + 5c2
Combine coefficients: 9 – 4 = 5 and 7 – 2 = 5
C. 8g + c2 – 6
8c + c2 – 6
No like terms.