COLLECTING LIKE TERMS

(Also referred to as SIMPLIFYING EXPRESSIONS.)

When collecting 'like terms' you are gathering together the same letters in groups.

I encourage my students to highlight each of the letters in different colours, as this helps break down the sum more easily. Make sure they highlight the + or - sign in front of the number as well as this is part of the number. (If a number or letter does not have a + or - in front of it, it will always be a +.)

For example: Simplify 3a + 2b + a + 4b

First, group the letters by highlighting them in the same colour (remember to highlight the + or - sign in front of the number or letter):

When simplifying expressions with a mix of positive and negative values, make sure you know how to add, subtract, multiply or divide them. There is more on this in the ALGEBRA BASICS section. Click the button below to got to the page: