Name _____________________________________ Date ___________
Notes
Combining Like Terms
One way to simplify an expression is to “combine like terms.”
What does it mean to
combine like terms?
You can only combine terms that have the same _______________________ and the same
_____________________________.
To combine like terms, first use the commutative property to move all like terms together. Then,
combine the coefficients of the variables.
Example 1: Example 1: Example 1:
Note:
2a + 3b – 4a Make sure 14m – 3n2 – 2n2 + 3m 5x + 4x – 6 + 5x2
to move
2a – 4a + 3b any
negative
-2a + 3b signs with
the term it
is before!
Note: all of your answers should be arranged so that the variables are in __________________
order first, then in order from greatest to least ___________________________.
Watch out for the following common mistakes! Circle the mistakes below:
Mistake #1: Mistake #2: Mistake #3:
a2 – 4a + 5a 3y + 4x2 – 3y + 5y 3h + 14g – 5h + 5g
2a2 3y – y + 5y + 4x2 3h + 5h + 14g – 5g
You can ONLY combine 7y + 4x2 8h + 9g
terms when the variable has
the same exponent. You should ALWAYS put the 9g + 8h
variables of your answer in
alphabetical order, then in You should ALWAYS move
order by exponent. the negative sign along with
the term that is after it.
Learning Activity:
Combining Like Terms Cards
Cut out the pieces along the dotted lines. Each row is a separate expression. Use these cards
on a board or projector to physically move the terms so that like terms are together. This, along
with color coding like terms, can help struggling students to see what you are doing when you
combine like terms. (This activity can be easily extended by giving each student an index card
and asking them to write a term using the variables a, b, or a constant. For example, a student
might come up with 3a, 11b or 8. Then choose student cards at random from the room to put
together into an expression and solve.)
2 2
1
4a + 3a - 16a +a
2
6b - 7b +8 + 4b
3
11 - 19 + 8g - 6g
2 5
4
5g + 6g - 4g + 8g
3
5
17x - 6y + 9y - 8x
6
6y +8 - 6y -8
2
7
-6d + 5c - 4c + 3c
8
2a +8 -a + 4a
2 3 2 4
9
2x + 5x - 6x +x
10
4p + 3np - 3n + 2p
Name _____________________________________ Date ___________
Practice
Combining Like Terms
Which terms are like terms? (Not all terms will be used.)
Circle all terms that Draw a square around Underline all terms Draw an X through all
can be combined with all terms that can be that can be combined terms that can be
3a. combined with 4b. with a2. combined with 5.
1. 14a 2. 5ab 3. 3b 4. 3a2
5. 4b2 6. 17 7. 100 8. 14ab
9. 5a3 10. 4a 11. 16b 12. 73a2
Simplify the following expressions by combining like terms. Show all work on a separate sheet
of paper and box your answer.
13. 4x – 6x 14. 7y + 5y – 5y 15. 4r + 4y – 8
16. 3m + 4n – 6n 17. 4g + 6g – 3g 18. 15f – 5 + 2f
19. 13x – 7y + 4x 20. 5x2 – 4x + 9x2 21. 4b + 7a – 8
22. 13r + 5s – 2r 23. a + a + 3b + b 24. 3y – 4y2 + 3y
25. (3a – b) + 2a 26. 2w + 4w2 – 5w3 27. c3 + 4c – 4c3
28. a – 3b + 5c + 4a 29. 2x + 7x – 6x + 8 30. 11q + 5p – 9q + 7p
31. 3mn + 4m – 2mn 32. 0t – 9t + 6u + 4u5 33. 11d + 5f – 21d + 5 – 8
34. 12 + 9x – 6x – 19 35. y2 + 3y2 – 6y + 4y2 36. 2 – 5t + 8 + 5t – 8
When part of an expression is over or under a division bar, you must act as if that part of the
expression is inside of parenthesis. Use PEMDAS to decide if you can simplify the expression
any further. (Think: did you get a fraction that you can simplify?)
37. 14r + 12s 38. 3x2 39. 2 – 5t
4s – 10s 12 – 14x2 2 + 5t – 4t
40. 2x – 6y + 4x 41. 11d + 9d 42. 12x – 7x
3y – 8 + y 8d – 3d 5x
Bonus: Simplify the expression below by combining like terms.
4z + x – 5x + 7y – 3x + 5y2 – 3z + 16z + 14x - 5
Name _____________________________________ Date ___________
Practice
Combining Like Terms Puzzle
Simplify each expression by combining like terms. Find the answer at the bottom of the page.
Then write the letter on the appropriate line below to spell out a secret message. (Some letters
may be used more than once!)
Did you hear the one about the acupuncture?
_____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
_____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ !
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
1. 2m + 3m2 - 4m 2. 2x + x – 4y 3. 2m + 4m – 3m2 4. 2y + 14x – 7x + 9y
5. 8n – 4n2 + 8n 6. 11g – 9g + 8g 7. 3m2 – 2m + 4m 8. 20 + 10q + 3q – 4
9. 4xy + x + 2xy 10. 6m2 + 6m – 9m2 11. 3n – 6mn + 2n 12. 3/2x – y + ½x + 3y
13. y + x + y + x 14. 8n + 4n2 – 8n 15. 5 + 5mn – 11mn 16. 15y + 6y – 3x + xy
17. 3xy – 5xy + 21y
I. 3m2 – 2m N. -3x + xy + 21y A. 7x + 11y
S. -4n2 + 16n W. -3m2 + 6m E. -6mn + 5n
E. –2xy + 21y J. 3m2 + 2m A. 13q + 16
O. -6mn + 5 B. x + 6xy L.2x + 2y
T. 3x – 4y A. 10g D. 4n2
Name _____________________________________ Date ___________
Enrichment Activity 1
Combining Like Terms
Have you ever heard the phrase “you can’t compare apples and oranges?” Place each of the
terms below on the proper “tree” that contains like terms. (Not all terms belong on a tree!)
x2 11 4z xy y
3 x2
9y 2z 2y 5z 11y
y
9x 6x2 9y 2z 19
7 -x2 3y 2x 7z
8 z
Name _____________________________________ Date ___________
Enrichment Activity 2
Combining Like Terms Group Cards
Teacher Notes: Use these cards to put students into groups for class work or other activities. (It
can also be used as an anticipatory set for a unit.) All students with like terms should find each
other to form groups.
2a 4a -3a -7a
4b 9b -4b b
3ab 4ab 9ab -2ab
4a2 -2a2 -a2 -18a2
3b2 -7b2 -b2 9b2
10c 11c -5c -c
7c2 -4c2 8c2 -12c2
ac 3ac 6ac -2ac
6bc 9bc 10bc -3bc
