Question

Choose the best definition for the following phrase: combining like terms (1 point)

A letter that holds the place for some unknown value in mathematics
A process where you must look for terms that have identical variable parts and then combine their coefficients
A process where if two things are equal, one can be put in the place of the other and nothing will change
Terms that have identical variable parts

Answer 1

D. Terms that have identical variable parts

Explanation:

Like terms refers to terms that have identical variable parts.

For example:

Given the expression

2xy + z + x + 3y - 5z + 4y - xy + 3x

The like terms in the expression are:

2xy - xy= xy

z - 5z= -4z

x + 3x= 4x

3y + 4y=7y

The new expression will be

xy - 4z + 4x + 7y