Mastering Algebra: Identifying And Combining Like Terms In Polynomial Expressions

Like terms

They are the same variable raised to the same power X is not like x to the second power but 2a+3a+4=5a+4

Like terms are the terms in a polynomial that have the same variable raised to the same power. In other words, like terms are the terms that can be combined by adding or subtracting their coefficients (the numerical values in front of the variable) and keeping the same variable and exponent.

For example, in the polynomial expression 4x^2 – 7x + 3x^2 + 2, the like terms are 4x^2 and 3x^2, because they have the same variable (x) raised to the same power (2). These two terms can be combined by adding their coefficients (4 + 3) to get 7x^2.

Similarly, -7x and 2 are also like terms because they don’t have any variables. Therefore, they can be added together to get -5x. However, 4x^2, 3x^2, -7x, and 2 are not like terms with each other because they don’t have the same variable raised to the same power and they cannot be combined.

Identifying like terms is an important concept in algebra because it simplifies polynomial expressions and makes them easier to work with.

More Answers:
Polynomials: Definitions, Degrees And Applications In Mathematics And Real-World Scenarios
Mastering Inverse Relationships: The Negative Connection Between Two Variables In Mathematics, Physics, And Economics
Simplifying Math Expressions And Equations For Easy Comprehension

Error 403 The request cannot be completed because you have exceeded your quota. : quotaExceeded

Share:

Recent Posts

Mathematics in Cancer Treatment

How Mathematics is Transforming Cancer Treatment Mathematics plays an increasingly vital role in the fight against cancer mesothelioma. From optimizing drug delivery systems to personalizing

Read More »