14 Chapter 1 Algebraic techniques 2 and indices

Adding and subtracting terms R EV IS ION

Recall from Year 7 that an expression such as 3x + 5x can be simplified to 8x, but an expression such as
3x + 5y cannot be simplifi ed. The reason is that 3x and 5x are like terms — they have exactly the same
pronumerals. The terms 3x and 5y are not like terms. Also, 4ab and 7ba are like terms because ab and ba
are equivalent, as multiplication is commutative. However, a2b, ab and ab2 are all unlike terms, since a2b
means a × a × b, which is different from a × b and a × b × b.

Let’s start: Like terms

• Put these terms into groups of like terms.
4a 5b 2ab 3ba 2a 7b2 5a2b 9aba
• What is the sum of each group?
• Ephraim groups 5a2b and 2ab as like terms, so he simplifies 5a2b + 2ab to 7ab. How could you
demonstrate to him that 5a2b + 2ab is not equivalent to 7ab?

Like terms contain exactly the same pronumerals with the same powers; the pronumerals do not
Key ideas

■
need to be in the same order, e.g. 4ab and 7ba are like terms.
■ Like terms can be combined when they are added or subtracted to simplify an expression,
e.g. 3xy + 5xy = 8xy.
■ A subtraction sign stays in front of a term even when it is moved.
e.g. − sign stays with following term
3x + 7y − 2xx + 3y + x − 4y
= 3x − 2x + x + 7y + 3y − 4y
= 2x + 6y

Example 5 Identifying like terms

a Are 5abc and −8abc like terms?
12xy2 and 4y2x like terms?
b Are 12
c Are 3ab2 and 7a2b like terms?

SOL UT IO N EX P LA NAT IO N
a Yes. Both terms have exactly the same pronumerals: a, b and c.
b Yes. 12xy2 is 12 × x × y × y and 4y2x is 4 × y × y × x. Both
When written out in full 12
terms include one x and two occurrences of y being multiplied, and the order
of multiplication does not matter.
c No. 3ab2 = 3 × a × b × b and 7a2b = 7 × a × a × b.. They are not like terms because
the fi rst includes only one a and the second includes two.

ISBN: 9781107671812 © David Greenwood et al. 2014 Cambridge University Press

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 Number and Algebra 15

Example 6 Simplifying by combining like terms

Simplify the following by combining like terms.
a 7t + 2t − 3t b 4x + 3y + 2x + 7y c 7ac + 3b − 2ca + 4b − 5b

SOL UT IO N E X P LA NAT I O N
a 7t + 2t − 3t = 6t These are like terms, so they can be combined: 7 + 2 − 3 = 6.
b 4x + 3y + 2x + 7y Move the like terms next to each other.
= 4x + 2x + 3y + 7y
= 6x + 10y Combine the pairs of like terms.
c 7ac + 3b − 2ca + 4b − 5b Move the like terms together. Recall that the subtraction sign
= 7ac − 2ca + 3b + 4b − 5b stays in front of 2ca even when it is moved.
= 5ac + 2b 7 − 2 = 5 and 3 + 4 − 5 = 2

Exercise 1C REVISION
U F
1 a If x = 3, evaluate 5x + 2x. C
R PS
b If x = 3, evaluate 7x.
c 5x + 2x is equivalent to 7x. True or false?

2 a If x = 3 and y = 4, evaluate 5x + 2y.

b If x = 3 and y = 4, evaluate 7xy.
c 5x + 2y is equivalent to 7xy. True or false?

3 a Substitute x = 4 into the expression 10x − 5x + 2x.

b Substitute x = 4 into:
i 3x
ii 5x
iii 7x
c Which one of the expressions in part b is equivalent to 10x − 5x + 2x?

U F
Example 5a 4 Classify the following pairs as like terms (L) or not like terms (N). C
R PS
a 3a and 5a b 7x and −12x
c 2y and 7y d 4a and −3b
e 7xy and 3y f 12ab and 4ba
g 3cd and −8c h 2x and 4xy

ISBN: 9781107671812 © David Greenwood et al. 2014 Cambridge University Press

Photocopying is restricted under law and this material must not be transferred to another party