Combining Like Terms

Terms are numbers and variables separated by a sign such as + - or =

2x + 3 = 7

There are 3 terms in this equation

2x, 3, and 7

"Like" means what is the same

in 2x + x, x is the same in each term

So, they can be combined

2x + x can be simplified to 3x

I can combine 3c + 4c + c

8c

Because each term has the variable c

The variable is any letter in an equation

I can't combine 3c + 2x because the variables are not the same

3x + 4x = 7x

2 + 3 = 5 ( you can combine numbers)

3x + 2 + 4x + 3 simplifies to 7x + 5