Lesson 2. Collecting like terms

a + b cannon be added together because the term a is not like the term b

a + 3a = 4a because the term a is like the term 3a

a and 3a are like terms

EXAMPLES:

6a + 4b + 2a + 3b = 8a + 7b

5p + p + 3p = 9p

ab + 3b + 2b = ab + 5b

4x² + 3x + 2x² + 6x = 6x² + 9x

7a + 3 + 2a = 9a + 3

Multiplying out brackets.

EXAMPLE:

Multiply out

means

2 × 3 add 2 × 5 =

6 + 10 = 16

EXAMPLE:

Multiply out

means

2 × a add 2 × b =

2a + 2b

EXAMPLE:

Expand

means

3 × 5a subtract 3 × 4 =

15a – 12

EXAMPLE:

Expand

means

–3 × 2a and –3 × 4

= –6a  – 12

EXAMPLE:

Multiply out

means

–4 × x and –4 × –2

= –4x + 8

EXAMPLE:

Simplify

2(3n + 1) + 3n      multiply out brackets first

= 6n + 2 + 3n       now collect like terms

= 9n + 2                 answer

EXAMPLE:

Simplify

3(2a + 2) + 4(a + 1)         

= 6a + 6 + 4a + 4        

= 10a + 10                  

EXAMPLE:

Simplify

EXAMPLE:

Simplify

Lesson 2

•  Test 1 
•  Test 2
•  Test 3