Combining

Like Terms

Notes
 Combining Like Terms

Term: a number, a variable, or a product of a number and

a variable.
Types of Terms:
1. Constant Terms (just numbers): 2, 5, , -0.3
2. Variable Terms (terms with variables): 4x, 3b, -12y

You can combine all constant terms, as well as all variable
terms if they share the same variable.

You cannot combine constant terms with variable terms,
or variable terms with different variables.
 Checklist for Combining Like Terms

1. Change all subtraction symbols into addition using

KCC (keep first #, change subtraction to addition,
change sign of second number)

2. Identify the like terms (circling, boxing, grouping,

rewriting, etc.)

3. Combine the like terms first

4. Re-write the expression with operation signs
 Practice
Identify and combine the like terms:

2x + 3 + 5x + 7

2x and 5x, 3 and 7


7x + 10



 Practice
Identify and combine the like terms:

14 6x + 2x 15

KCC:

14 + -6x + 2x + -15

14 and -15; -6x and 2x


-1 + -4x or -1 4x
 Practice: Combining Like Terms
Identify and combine the like terms:

1. -4x + 4 13
-4x; 4 and 13 -4x + -9 or -4x 9

2. x + 2x 3x + 5
x, 2x, -3x; 5 -x + 5

3. 3 + 4b + 17 4a
3 and 17; 4b; -4a 20 + 4b 4a



Practice: Combining Like Terms

1. 27 3x + 15x 4 + 22
27 + -3x + 15x + -4 + 22
-3x and 15x; 27, -4, and 22
-12x + 45

2. 15y + -3 2y + 14x 12x

15y + -3 + -2y + 14x + -12x

15y and -2y; 14x and -12x; -3

13y + 2x + -3 or 13y + 2x 3

 Practice
Simplify the expression by combining the like
terms:

4b + 3 5b + 12 6

KCC: 4b + 3 + -5b + 12 +-6

Like terms: 4b, -5b; 3, 12, and -6


-1b; 9
-1b + 9 , b + 9, 9 + -b, or 9 b