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How do you solve equations that contain like terms

User Wild Beard
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2 Answers

4 votes

You combine like terms if there are any on either side of the equal sign

Example: 4x + 3x + 5 = 8x + 2 + 3x

4x + 3x = 7x

7x + 5 = 8x + 2 + 3x

8x + 3x = 11x

7x + 5 = 11x + 2 <-- that would be the equation once all like terms are combined

User Billy Brown
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6.0k points
4 votes
You add or subtract it for instance: 14x+258-52. You have to subtract 52 from 258 because of the symbol (-) in front of it. Since there is no other numbers with variables 14x is left alone. Hope this helps
User Jyasthin
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