Combining like terms

The  exercise appears under the 6th grade (U.S.) Math Mission. This exercise combines like terms in algebraic expressions.

Types of Problems
There is one type of problem in this exercise:


 * 1) Combine the like terms: This problem has an algebraic expression consisting of integers and variables with whole number coefficients. The student is expected to simplify the expression by combining like terms and writing the answer in the space provided.Clt1.png

Strategies
Knowledge of addition and subtraction of integers, and the reverse distributive property, are encouraged to ensure success on this exercise.
 * 1) The distributive property, $$a(b+c)=ab+ac$$, is the justification for combining like terms.
 * 2) A variables terms on this exercise will be the same variable, i.e., it does not mix x's and y's in this exercise.

Real-life Applications

 * 1) Combining like terms is one of the most fundamental simplifications procedures. Virually all equations employ some kind of collecting like terms.
 * 2) Combining like terms can be viewed as a justification for getting common denominators to add a(although circular). The different denominators are different "terms."