5/27/22, 3:24 AM Simplifying Expressions with Like Terms
The Order of Operations and Variables:
Simplifying Expressions with Like Terms
Even without knowing what a variable is, we can sometimes make expressions with variables
look simpler. This is done by simplifying our expression.
Here is a vocabulary word that will help you understand the lesson better:
Coefficient = the number being multiplied to a variable (in 2n, 2 is the coefficient)
Reduce = combine or simplify by doing whatever operations we can
Term = a part of an expression separated from the rest by addition (in 3a + 6b, 3a is one term
and 6b is another term)
Like Terms = any terms in an expression where the variables are the same (3a and 4a, 2b2
and 5b , note that 2b and 3b are not like terms)
2 2
0::10 1x
Video Source (09:10 mins) | Transcript
Remember to follow the order of operations. Sometimes this means to use the distributive
property to solve what’s in the parentheses.
When we see two different letters, we can easily know that we don’t have like terms, but can we
add 3a + 4a2 ? Let’s say a = 3, then a2 = 9. Because these are different numbers the answer
is no, we cannot add 3a + 4a2. Any time we have different letters as our variables, or the same
letter with different powers, we do not have like terms.
Additional Resources
Khan Academy: Intro to Combining Like Terms (04:32 mins, Transcript)
https://content.byui.edu/file/b8b83119-9acc-4a7b-bc84-efacf9043998/1/Math-1-6-5.html 1/2
The Order of Operations and Variables:
Simplifying Expressions with Like Terms
Even without knowing what a variable is, we can sometimes make expressions with variables
look simpler. This is done by simplifying our expression.
Here is a vocabulary word that will help you understand the lesson better:
Coefficient = the number being multiplied to a variable (in 2n, 2 is the coefficient)
Reduce = combine or simplify by doing whatever operations we can
Term = a part of an expression separated from the rest by addition (in 3a + 6b, 3a is one term
and 6b is another term)
Like Terms = any terms in an expression where the variables are the same (3a and 4a, 2b2
and 5b , note that 2b and 3b are not like terms)
2 2
0::10 1x
Video Source (09:10 mins) | Transcript
Remember to follow the order of operations. Sometimes this means to use the distributive
property to solve what’s in the parentheses.
When we see two different letters, we can easily know that we don’t have like terms, but can we
add 3a + 4a2 ? Let’s say a = 3, then a2 = 9. Because these are different numbers the answer
is no, we cannot add 3a + 4a2. Any time we have different letters as our variables, or the same
letter with different powers, we do not have like terms.
Additional Resources
Khan Academy: Intro to Combining Like Terms (04:32 mins, Transcript)
https://content.byui.edu/file/b8b83119-9acc-4a7b-bc84-efacf9043998/1/Math-1-6-5.html 1/2
