Characteristics
Simplifying
Examples
Example 1 Simplify 3x + 4x.
Step 1. First determine whether the terms are like terms and can be combined.
These are like terms since they have the same variable.
Step 2. Combine the terms by adding the coefficients.
3x + 4x = (3 + 4)x = 7x
Example 2 Simplify 2x2 + 3x - 4 - x2 + x + 9.
Step 1. Group like terms together.
2x2 + 3x - 4 - x2 + x + 9
(2x2 - 1x2) + (3x + 1x) + (-4 + 9)
Step 2. Simplify.
x2 + 4x + 5