Combining Like and Unlike Terms

Question 1

What are similar terms in mathematics?

Answer 1

Similar terms are terms that have the same variable(s) raised to the same power. They can be combined by adding or subtracting their coefficients.

Question 2

What are dissimilar terms in mathematics?

Answer 2

Dissimilar terms are terms that have different variable(s) or the same variables raised to different powers. They cannot be combined directly.

Question 3

Example of similar terms.

Answer 3

3x and 5x are similar terms. Combined, they equal 8x.

Question 4

Example of dissimilar terms.

Answer 4

3x and 4y are dissimilar terms and cannot be combined.

Question 5

How to combine similar terms?

Answer 5

Add or subtract the coefficients of the similar terms while keeping the variable part unchanged.

Question 6

Why can’t dissimilar terms be combined?

Answer 6

Dissimilar terms represent different quantities or dimensions, making it mathematically incorrect to combine them.

Question 7

What is the result of combining 2a + 3a?

Answer 7

The result is 5a, as they are similar terms.

Question 8

What happens if you try to combine 2a + 3b?

Answer 8

You cannot combine them; the expression remains as 2a + 3b because they are dissimilar terms.