84.0k views
0 votes
Use the commutative property of addition to collect like terms

User Kekolab
by
7.1k points

1 Answer

2 votes

Answer: The commutative property of addition states that changing the order of the terms being added does not change the sum. Therefore, we can rearrange the terms in an expression in any order we choose without changing the result.

For example, if we have the expression:

3x + 2y + 4x + 5y

We can use the commutative property of addition to rearrange the terms as:

3x + 4x + 2y + 5y

Then, we can collect the like terms (terms with the same variable and exponent) by combining the coefficients:

7x + 7y

So the simplified expression is 7x + 7y.

Explanation:

User LaKraven
by
7.5k points