1
Math
I can create equivalent
expressions.
By Combining Like Terms
1
Foldable
Example:
12x + 10 + 15x + 4y − 6 + 13y
1. Draw lines in front of
each + or − to
separate all terms.
2. Highlight all like terms
in the same colors.
3. Put each group of like
terms together.
4. Simplify each group
into one single term by
adding.
2
3x + 2 + 4x + 1
7x + 3
Highlight Like Terms with variable x with pink
Highlight Like Terms with variable y with
orange
Highlight Constants with yellow
Then simplify each expression by combining
like terms.
3
Simplify each expression
a. 2x + 4 + 3x + 3y
b. 8x + 23 + 5x + 5
c. 3x + x – 8 + y
d. -4x + 2 + 9x + 17
4
Simplify each expression.
a) 9 + 4x + 3 + 2x
b) 2x + 2y + x - 4 +9y
c) 6y + 4x + 7y + x + 5
d) 2x2 + 3 + 5x2 + 4y + 6y + 14
5
Notes
 If there are
a) 5(2x + 13) + 7x
parenthesis in the
problem, always
apply the distributive
b) 4x + 5(2x + y) + 3y
property before
combining like terms.
c) 7.6x + 3.2(3.1x + 2.4)
6
Are the following expressions equivalent? Use the
distributive property and combine like terms when
needed.
1) 5a + 7(3 + a) and 12a + 21
2) 7y – 15 + 2y and 9y – 15
3) 5x + 6 and x(5 + 6)
4) 4k + 12 and 2(2k + 5) + 2
7