Question

Justify why the sum of 3a and
2b cannot be represented as 5ab.

Answer 1

because 3a and 3b have different variables. You can't add "unlike terms" to each other because the variables have different values. by writing 3a+2b as 5ab, you're completely changing the meaning of the problem. You would get a totally different answer than you would by just adding the two terms together.

Answer 2

You cannot add two numbers that have different variables.

Explanation:

You can multiply them, but since 3 is multiplied by "a" or a different number than "b" then the answer would be incorrect.