2.1.4

Collecting Terms

Test yourself

Collecting Terms

When simplifying algebraic expressions, we collect like terms. This means we combine terms that have the same letters and indices.

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Example 1

  • We collect all 'a' terms together.
  • We cannot simplify '3a' any further.
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Example 2

  • We collect all 'b' terms together.
  • We collect all 'c' terms together.
  • We cannot simplify any further as we cannot collect unlike terms.
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Example 3

  • We collect all 'a' terms together.
  • We collect all 'b' terms together.
  • The sign in front of each term is important - it tells us whether to add or subtract.
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Example 4

  • We collect alike terms.
  • We cannot collect 'x' and 'xy' terms as they are not alike.

Jump to other topics

1Number

1.1Place Value

1.2Factors & Multiples

1.3Operations

1.4Fractions, Decimals & Percentages

1.5Growth & Decay

1.6Measurements & Units

1.7Accuracy

2Algebra

3Ratio, Proportion & Rates of Change

4Geometry & Measures

5Probability

6Statistics

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