Combine like terms and simplify
Simplifying makes expressions easier to work with by combining like terms.
Like terms have the same variable raised to the same power.
| Like Terms | Not Like Terms |
|---|---|
| and | and |
| and | and |
| and | and |
Add or subtract the coefficients, keep the variable the same.
Group like terms:
When you have parentheses, distribute (multiply) first:
(Distributing )
Simplify: