How to Combine Like Terms? (+FREE Worksheet!)
Learn how to combine ‘like’ terms (terms with the same variable and same power) to simplify algebraic expressions.
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Watch this practice video for additional examples and reinforcement:
Related Topics
- How to Translate Phrases into an Algebraic Statement
- How to Simplify Variable Expressions
- How to Simplify Polynomial Expressions
- How to Use the Distributive Property
- How to Evaluate One Variable
Step-by-step guide to combining like terms
- Terms are separated by “\(+\)” and “\(–\) “signs.
- Like terms are terms with the same variables and same powers.
- Be sure to use the “\(+\)” or “\(–\) “that is in front of the coefficient.
For education statistics and research National Center for Education Statistics.
Combining like Terms – Example 1:
Simplify this expression. \((-2)(2x \ -2)+2x=\)
Solution:
First use Distributive Property formula: \(a(b \ + \ c)=ab \ + \ ac\)
\((- 2)(2 x \ -2)=-4x \ + \ 4 \)
Now, combine like terms: \(-4x + 2x= -2x \)
Then: \(-4x \ + \ 4 \ + 2x= -2x + 4 \)
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Combining like Terms – Example 2:
Simplify this expression. \(4(- \ 2 x \ + \ 6)=\)
Solution:
Use Distributive Property formula: \(a(b \ + \ c)=ab \ + \ ac\)
\(4(− \ 2x \ + \ 6)= \ − 8 x \ + \ 24 \)
Combining like Terms – Example 3:
Simplify this expression. \(8x \ – 6 \ – 2x = \)
Solution:
Combine like terms: \(8x\ – 2x = 6x \)
Then: \(8x-6\ – 2x = 6x\ – 6 \)
Combining like Terms – Example 4:
Simplify this expression. \( (-3)(2x-2)+6=\)
Solution:
First use Distributive Property formula: \(a(b+c)=ab+ac \)
\( (-3)(2x-2)=-6x+6 \)
Now, combining like terms: \(6+6=12\)
Then: \(-6x+6+6=-6x+12 \)
Exercises for Combining Like Terms
Simplify each expression.
- \(\color{blue}{(– 11x)\ – 10x}\)
- \(\color{blue}{3x \ – 12 – 5x}\)
- \(\color{blue}{13 + 4x\ – 5}\)
- \(\color{blue}{(– 22x) + 8x}\)
- \(\color{blue}{2 (4 + 3x)\ – 7x}\)
- \(\color{blue}{(– 4x)\ – (6 – 14x)}\)
Download Combining like Terms Worksheet
Answers
- \(\color{blue}{–21x}\)
- \(\color{blue}{–2x – 12}\)
- \(\color{blue}{4x + 8}\)
- \(\color{blue}{–14x}\)
- \(\color{blue}{– x + 8}\)
- \(\color{blue}{10x – 6}\)
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