Collecting Like Terms · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

Collecting Like Terms

Mathematics · Algebra · ages 11-12
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. In the expression 6p + 4q + 2p, which two terms are like terms?

    • 6p and 4q
    • 6p and 2p
    • 4q and 2p

  2. Simplify: 6a + 7b

    • 13ab
    • 13a + b
    • 6a + 7b
    • 13b

  3. Simplify: 5y + 8y - 3y. What number goes in front of y?

    Answer: ______________

  4. Which two terms are like terms?

    • 3a and 3b
    • 5x and 2x
    • 4y and 4y²

  5. Simplify: 4x + 3y + 5 + 2x

    • 6x + 3y + 5
    • 6x + 3y
    • 6xy + 5

  6. Simplify: 6p - 2q - 4p + q

    • -2p + q
    • 10p - 3q
    • 2p - q
    • 2p + q

  7. Simplify: 9 + 4k - 5

    • 14k - 5
    • 4k + 4
    • 4k - 14
    • 8 + 4k

  8. Simplify: 7x - 4x + 6. What number goes in front of x?

    Answer: ______________

  9. True or false: 5r + 3 - 5r simplifies to 3.

    Circle one:   True   False

  10. Ben simplifies 6a + 4b - 2a and writes 4b, saying the a-terms cancel out completely. What is the correct simplified expression?

    • 4a + 4b
    • 8a + 4b
    • 4b
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Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Collecting Like Terms W1-mt_nNNVrLqPW3-s1

  1. 6p and 2p · 6p and 2p both use the variable p, so they are like terms. 4q uses a different letter.
  2. 6a + 7b · 6a has an a and 7b has a b. Different letters cannot combine, so the expression is already as simple as it gets.
  3. 10 · All three terms have y, so add and subtract the numbers: 5 + 8 - 3 = 10, which gives 10y.
  4. 5x and 2x · Like terms share both the variable and its power. 5x and 2x are both x to the first power.
  5. 6x + 3y + 5 · 4x and 2x combine to 6x. The 3y and the constant 5 have no matching terms, so they stay separate.
  6. 2p - q · p terms: 6p - 4p = 2p. q terms: -2q + q = -q. Together that is 2p - q.
  7. 4k + 4 · The plain numbers combine: 9 - 5 = 4. The 4k has a letter, so it stays. The answer is 4k + 4.
  8. 3 · The x terms combine: 7 - 4 = 3, giving 3x. The 6 stays, so the answer is 3x + 6 and the number in front of x is 3.
  9. True · The 5r and -5r cancel out completely, leaving only the 3.
  10. 4a + 4b · 6a - 2a = 4a, not zero. Subtract the coefficients rather than canceling them, and keep 4b separate.
Worksheet · LightMySky