Scribd
Upload
35 views

Important !: We Can Only Add

We can only add terms that have the same variables raised to the same powers. For example, in the expression 3a + 7a, we can combine the a terms because they both have a single a. But we cannot combine terms like 4b and 4c because they have different variables. When simplifying expressions, we group like terms and combine their coefficients, leaving all other terms unchanged.

Uploaded by

Yus Linda
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
35 views

Important !: We Can Only Add

We can only add terms that have the same variables raised to the same powers. For example, in the expression 3a + 7a, we can combine the a terms because they both have a single a. But we cannot combine terms like 4b and 4c because they have different variables. When simplifying expressions, we group like terms and combine their coefficients, leaving all other terms unchanged.

Uploaded by

Yus Linda
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 7

Important !

We can only add like terms.

Why?

+ = ?



Similarly with
algebra, we can only
add similar
"objects", or
those with the same
letter raised to the
same power
+

+ +
3a + 4b +7a+4c
The only like terms in this expression are 3a and 7a

We cannot do anything with the 4b or 4c

So we group together the terms, and just leave the


rest:

(3a +7a) + 4b + 4c

= 10a + 4b + 4c
Simplify :
8m + 6n + m + 4n
8m + 6n + m + 4n =

A. 19mn 
B. 14m + 5n

C. 9m + 10n

You might also like