How it works
The same number can be written two ways. Test a number to be sure.
Add like terms: 2x + x + 3x + x = 7x.
Check with a number: 5(2y + 5) is 10y + 25, not 10y + 5.
Worked examples
Like terms
- 2x + x + 3x + x.
- Add the coefficients: 2 + 1 + 3 + 1 = 7.
- It is 7x.
Another
- y + 3y + y + 2y.
- 1 + 3 + 1 + 2 = 7.
- It is 7y.
Test it
- Is 5(2y + 5) the same as 10y + 5?
- Try y = 1: 5 × 7 = 35 but 10 + 5 = 15.
- They are different, so the answer is no.
A taste of the worksheet
These are the first problems of set A. The printable sheet has many more, with an answer key.
- The dots show 4 × (3 + 5). Count them as two groups: 4 × 3 + 4 × 5 = ___ dots in all.
- 5(x + 8) = 5x + ___
- 3x + x + 3x = ___x
- Which is the same as 7(2x + 9)?
- 35 + 7x is equal to 7(5 + x).
Words to know
- like terms
- Terms with the same variable.
- equivalent expressions
- Expressions that always give the same number.