- 1). Find like terms and group these together. Like terms are terms that contain similar variables expressed to the same power.
3x2 and 5x2 are like terms.
4x and 5x are like terms.
-8x2 and 5y2 are not like terms, because the variable is not the same. - 2). Add or subtract these like terms, normally. You can only add like to like, or subtract like from like, that is, terms with exactly the same variable and power. For example, in 13x + 7y ' 2x + 6a, grouping like terms yields (13x - 2x) + 7y + 6a.
- 3). Simplify the equation to solve. Using the example from Step 2, (13x - 2x) + 7y + 6a = 11x + 7y + 6a. You may also present your answer alphabetically as 6a + 11x + 7y, but this is not strictly necessary.
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