Final answer:
Like terms are terms in an algebraic expression that have the same variables raised to the same exponent. The correct answer is b) Variables, as they need to match exactly for terms to be considered like and combined.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks which types of terms may be combined as like terms in an algebraic expression. Like terms are terms that have exactly the same variables raised to the same exponent. Therefore, the correct answer to the question is: b) Variables. When you combine like terms, you simplify the expression by adding or subtracting the numerical coefficients of these terms.
For example, in the expression 3x2 + 4x2, both terms are 'like terms' because they both contain the variable x raised to the exponent 2. These can be combined to get 7x2.
It's important to understand that like terms must have identical variable components, including the variables themselves and any exponents they might have. This is a fundamental concept in algebra that allows us to simplify and solve equations.