Introduction
Simplifying Algebraic Expressions
Expressions can often be written in a simpler form.
For example, the expression 5x + 4x can be written more simply as 9x.
Notice that the expression was simplified (put into a more simple form) even though we did not know the value of the pronumeral (x).
When simplifying expressions, we can collect (add or subtract) only like terms.
Like terms are terms that contain the same pronumeral parts
For example:
2x and 6x are like terms.
4ab and 7ab are like terms.
15bc and 4cb are like terms.
3g2 and 45g2 are like terms.
3x and 3y are not like terms.
7ab and 8a are not like terms.
8a and 3a2 are not like terms.