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.

• \(\color{blue}{(– 11x)\ – 10x}\)
• \(\color{blue}{3x \ – 12 – 5x}\)
• \(\color{blue}{13 + 4x\ – 5}\)
• \(\color{blue}{(– 22x) + 8x}\)
• \(\color{blue}{2 (4 + 3x)\ – 7x}\)
• \(\color{blue}{(– 4x)\ – (6 – 14x)}\)

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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