Question

Choose the best definition for the following phrase: like terms

A) A letter that holds the place for some unknown value in mathematics.

B) A process where you must look for terms that have identical variable parts and then combine their coefficients.

C) A process where if two things are equal, one can be put in the place of the other and nothing will change.

D) Terms that have identical variable parts.

Answer 1

For this case, like terms refer to:

Equal variables in a given equation.

For example, suppose we have the following polynomial:

`image`

Like terms are:

The terms whose variables have exponent equal to 1.

We have then:

6x and 2x

Answer:

the best definition for the phrase like terms is:

D) Terms that have identical variable parts.

Answer 2

Like terms

D) Terms that have identical variable parts.

An equation has the following parts:
1) Coefficient
2) Variable
3) Operator
4) Constants

4x + 3 = 11
4 is the coefficient
x is the variable
3 and 11 are the constants


4x - 3x + 8x ⇒ like terms ; they have identical variable parts, x.