Final answer:
Combining like terms refers to adding or subtracting terms that have identical variables and exponents. You would add their coefficients to combine them. Multiplying exponentials involves the addition of exponents when the bases are the same.
Step-by-step explanation:
Combining like terms means: A) Adding terms with the same variable and exponent.
This is because like terms have the same variables raised to the same powers, and hence they can be combined by addition or subtraction. For example, in an algebraic expression, 2x + 3x are like terms because they both contain the variable x raised to the first power. To combine these like terms, you would simply add their coefficients (2+3) to get 5x.
When dealing with exponents, there are specific rules. Multiplication of exponentials involves multiplying the coefficients and adding the exponents of the terms with the same base. For instance, when multiplying x² by x³, you would multiply the base x and add the exponents 2 and 3 to get x^(2+3) or xµ.
It's important to note that you cannot combine terms with different variables or different exponents because they do not represent the same mathematical quantities. Combining like terms simplifies an expression and makes it easier to solve equations.