Re-write the expression to group like terms together.

Simplify.

To simplify a problem like the example above we must combine the like-termed variables.

Like terms are the terms that share the same variable(s) to the same power. In this example the like term is .

To combine like terms the variable stays the same and you add the numbers in front.

Perform the necessary addition, , to get .

We have the simplified version of the equation, .

When combining like terms, the order of operations must also be taken into account.

then combine the x squared terms to get the answer.

To simplify a problem like the example above we must combine the like termed variables.

Like terms are the numbers that have the same variable, in this example, and .

Separate the 's to get .

Then perform the necessary subtraction and addition with the numbers in front of the variables to get or .

Then separate the ’s to get .

Then perform the necessary subtraction to get .

We then combine our answers to have the simplified version of the equation .

To simplify a problem like the example above we must combine the like termed variables.

Like terms are the numbers that have the same variable, in this example, and .

Separate the 's to get .

Then perform the necessary subtraction to get .

Then separate the 's to get .

Then perform the necessary subtraction to get .

We then combine our answers to have the simplified version of the equation .

First, distribute the negative sign into the parentheses.

Next, combine like terms.

Note that all operations in this problem are addition and subtraction; there is no need to FOIL or multiply.

Combine like terms: . Remember you can only combine terms that have the same variables, for example and , but not and