2007-02-03 04:56:06 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
you can only add or subtract x's from x's and y's from y's. you also can only add or subtract a variable to the same power. for example; x plus x squared would remain x plus x-squared, they cannot be combined because on has an exponent of 1 and the other has an exponent of 2.
when multiplying variables the above rules do not apply.
2007-02-03 05:00:42 · answer #1 · answered by Lee 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Like terms are groups of letters, signs or indices where everything is identical apart from the number at the beginning.
Eg.
2x and 4x and 16x are all like terms
5pgr² and 17pgr² and 12pgr² are all like terms
However, if you had something like 9pgr² + 8x...you wouldn't be able to combine like terms as everything after the begging number is different.
Just like 8pgr²+9x-2x+7p+pgr²
Your answer would be (8pgr² + pgr²) = 9pgr²
(9x - 2x) = 7x
(7p) = 7p
Overall, you would end up with
9pgr²+7x+7p
Hope this helps you understand!!
2007-02-03 14:37:18 · answer #2 · answered by Laura B 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Heck yeah!
It's easy. All you do is look for like terms (5x-3=4x-2; 5x and 4x being the like terms) and do the opposite for both sides (5x-3=4x-2; subtract 4x from both sides [if it was -4x you would add] and you have x-3=-2; add 3 from the right to the left and you have x=1) See! Easy!
2007-02-03 13:05:00 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Here's an example:
4x+8x=12x
That would be combining like terms!
2007-02-03 12:59:18 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Are you kidding me? Say you have this...
5x+4x+-7=2x+14 ** Take 5x and 4x and add them together 9x+-7=2x+14 **because they are on the sm. side of the
-2x -2x **equ. sign. Then take the smaller number
7x+-7=14 **w/ the variable and use the inverse opp.
+7 +7 **to add or subtract (see example for all of
7x=21 **these steps). Slove like a two step equation.
x=3
2007-02-03 13:14:49 · answer #5 · answered by reindroppe 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes it is easy just do exactly what it says combine the like terms
2007-02-03 13:42:35 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Like terms are monomials that have the exact same variable and exponents. Also number thats stand alone would be like terms.
2007-02-03 12:58:30 · answer #7 · answered by alwaysmoose 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well it depends if the # its self is a positive or a negative. if it is positive then subtract from both sides. if it is a negative then add to each side. like 4x+(-5y)=44x+20y. subtract 4 from 4x(so that way you get rid of the 4) and do the same for 44x which would equal 40x. then you will subtract 20 (so that way you can have one equation on each side) then subtract from (-5) which equals -25. so your whole equation equals (-25y)=40x i hope i helped you out and not confused you.
2007-02-03 13:17:31 · answer #8 · answered by bubba 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You will have to align the equation
X with X like 3x and 5x equals 8x
2007-02-03 13:01:25 · answer #9 · answered by *joos* 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes you mean like in equations
you combine the varables then number values
2007-02-03 12:59:23 · answer #10 · answered by GGbaby13 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋