Learning about algebra

Collecting like terms 

You can only collect terms whose letters are the same. 

Step 1: Write out the question. 

Step 2: Blue highlight all the terms with the same letters (like terms). Make sure you also capture the plus or minus on 

2a + 3b +9a+ b + 3c

the left. 

Step 3: Now use a red highlighter for the next group of like terms.

 2a + 3b + 9a + b + 3c

Step 4: If there are any more groups of like terms then use a green highlighter around them.

 2a + 3b + 9a + b + 3c

Step 5: Now just add up how many of 

each group you have got. This is your answer! 

 2a + 3b + 9a + b + 3c     = 11a + 4b + 3c 

Questions 

Collect the like terms in these expressions: 

1. a + a =2a

2. a + 2a= 3a

3. a + 3a + b=4a + b

 4. 2a + b + 3b = 2a +4b

5. a + b + 2b + 3a= 4a +3b

6. a + 2b + 3c + 3a + 3b= 4a + 5b + 3c

7. 3x + 7y + 2x +9y = 5x+ 16y

8. 8A + 9A + 10B + 5A= 22a + 19b

9. 13d + 2f + f + f + 2d=  15d+4f

10. x + y + x + y + 2x + 2z =4x + 2y + 2z

11. 25x + 2y - 19x - y =6x + 2y

12. A + 15B - A + 5B =2a + 20b

13. 3x + 45z - 4x + 13y= 7x+45z+13

14. d - 2d + 3e + d =2d+3e

15. 2f - 3f + 9g +2f - 2f + f =10f+9g

16. -12x -15y -16x +16y =28x+31y

17. 34x + 13xy + 12y =47x+25y

18. 99x - 12xy + x - 12xy2 =(3y2 + 3y - 25)

19. 2(x + 3y) - 2x =8y + 12 x

20. 3x(2 + x) - x2 =32 x + 12a