How to Combine Like Terms? (+FREE Worksheet!)

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.

Combining like Terms For education statistics and research

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

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 to 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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