Name _____________________________________ Date ___________

Notes
Combining Like Terms
One way to simplify an expression is to combine like terms.


What does it mean to
combine like terms?




You can only combine terms that have the same _______________________ and the same

_____________________________.


To combine like terms, first use the commutative property to move all like terms together. Then,
combine the coefficients of the variables.
Example 1:

2a + 3b 4a

2a 4a + 3b

-2a + 3b



Example 1:

14m 3n
2
2n
2
+ 3m

Example 1:

5x + 4x 6 + 5x
2

Note: all of your answers should be arranged so that the variables are in __________________

order first, then in order from greatest to least ___________________________.

Watch out for the following common mistakes! Circle the mistakes below:
Mistake #1:

a
2
4a + 5a

2a
2

You can ONLY combine
terms when the variable has
the same exponent.
Mistake #2:

3y + 4x
2
3y + 5y

3y y + 5y + 4x
2


7y + 4x
2

You should ALWAYS put the
variables of your answer in
alphabetical order, then in
order by exponent.

Mistake #3:

3h + 14g 5h + 5g

3h + 5h + 14g 5g

8h + 9g

9g + 8h

You should ALWAYS move
the negative sign along with
the term that is after it.

Note:
Make sure
to move
any
negative
signs with
the term it
is before!
Learning Activity:
Combining Like Terms Cards

Cut out the pieces along the dotted lines. Each row is a separate expression. Use these cards
on a board or projector to physically move the terms so that like terms are together. This, along
with color coding like terms, can help struggling students to see what you are doing when you
combine like terms. (This activity can be easily extended by giving each student an index card
and asking them to write a term using the variables a, b, or a constant. For example, a student
might come up with 3a, 11b or 8. Then choose student cards at random from the room to put
together into an expression and solve.)

1
4a
2
+ 3a - 16a + a
2

2
6b - 7b + 8 + 4b
3
11 - 19 + 8g - 6g
4
5g
2
+ 6g - 4g + 8g
5
5
17x - 6y + 9y
3
- 8x
6
6y + 8 - 6y - 8
7
-6d + 5c - 4c
2
+ 3c
8
2a + 8 - a + 4a
9
2x
2
+ 5x
3
- 6x
2
+ x
4
10
4p + 3np - 3n + 2p


Name _____________________________________ Date ___________

Practice
Combining Like Terms
Which terms are like terms? (Not all terms will be used.)
Circle all terms that
can be combined with
3a.
Draw a square around
all terms that can be
combined with 4b.
Underline all terms
that can be combined
with a
2
.
Draw an X through all
terms that can be
combined with 5.

1. 14a 2. 5ab 3. 3b 4. 3a
2

5. 4b
2
6. 17 7. 100 8. 14ab
9. 5a
3
10. 4a 11. 16b 12. 73a
2

Simplify the following expressions by combining like terms. Show all work on a separate sheet
of paper and box your answer.

13. 4x 6x 14. 7y + 5y 5y 15. 4r + 4y 8
16. 3m + 4n 6n

17. 4g + 6g 3g 18. 15f 5 + 2f
19. 13x 7y + 4x 20. 5x
2
4x + 9x
2
21. 4b + 7a 8
22. 13r + 5s 2r 23. a + a + 3b + b 24. 3y 4y
2
+ 3y
25. (3a b) + 2a 26. 2w + 4w
2
5w
3
27. c
3
+ 4c 4c
3

28. a 3b + 5c + 4a 29. 2x + 7x 6x + 8 30. 11q + 5p 9q + 7p
31. 3mn + 4m 2mn 32. 0t 9t + 6u + 4u
5
33. 11d + 5f 21d + 5 8
34. 12 + 9x 6x 19 35. y
2
+ 3y
2
6y + 4y
2
36. 2 5t + 8 + 5t 8
When part of an expression is over or under a division bar, you must act as if that part of the
expression is inside of parenthesis. Use PEMDAS to decide if you can simplify the expression
any further. (Think: did you get a fraction that you can simplify?)

37. 14r + 12s
4s 10s

38. 3x
2

12 14x
2
39. 2 5t
2 + 5t 4t
40. 2x 6y + 4x
3y 8 + y
41. 11d + 9d
8d 3d
42. 12x 7x
5x
Bonus: Simplify the expression below by combining like terms.

4z + x 5x + 7y 3x + 5y
2
3z + 16z + 14x - 5


Name _____________________________________ Date ___________

Practice
Combining Like Terms Puzzle
Simplify each expression by combining like terms. Find the answer at the bottom of the page.
Then write the letter on the appropriate line below to spell out a secret message. (Some letters
may be used more than once!)

Did you hear the one about the acupuncture?

_____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

_____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ !
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17


1. 2m + 3m
2
- 4m




2. 2x + x 4y 3. 2m + 4m 3m
2
4. 2y + 14x 7x + 9y
5. 8n 4n
2
+ 8n 6. 11g 9g + 8g 7. 3m
2
2m + 4m 8. 20 + 10q + 3q 4
9. 4xy + x + 2xy 10. 6m
2
+ 6m 9m
2
11. 3n 6mn + 2n 12.
3
/
2
x y + x + 3y
13. y + x + y + x 14. 8n + 4n
2
8n 15. 5 + 5mn 11mn 16. 15y + 6y 3x + xy
17. 3xy 5xy + 21y

I. 3m
2
2m
S. -4n
2
+ 16n
E. 2xy + 21y
O. -6mn + 5
T. 3x 4y
N. -3x + xy + 21y
W. -3m
2
+ 6m
J. 3m
2
+ 2m
B. x + 6xy
A. 10g
A. 7x + 11y
E. -6mn + 5n
A. 13q + 16
L.2x + 2y
D. 4n
2

Name _____________________________________ Date ___________

Enrichment Activity 1
Combining Like Terms

Have you ever heard the phrase you cant compare apples and oranges? Place each of the
terms below on the proper tree that contains like terms. (Not all terms belong on a tree!)










x
2
11 4z xy y
9y 2z 2y
3
5z 11y
9x 6x
2
9y 2z 19
7 -x
2
3y 2x 7z







x
2
z

8

y

Name _____________________________________ Date ___________

Enrichment Activity 2
Combining Like Terms Group Cards
Teacher Notes: Use these cards to put students into groups for class work or other activities. (It
can also be used as an anticipatory set for a unit.) All students with like terms should find each
other to form groups.


2a 4a -3a -7a
4b 9b -4b b
3ab 4ab 9ab -2ab
4a
2
-2a
2
-a
2
-18a
2

3b
2
-7b
2
-b
2
9b
2

10c 11c -5c -c
7c
2
-4c
2
8c
2
-12c
2

ac 3ac 6ac -2ac
6bc 9bc 10bc -3bc