dd like terms by
adding the numerical portion of the terms, following the rules for adding signed numbers.
(The numerical portion of an expression is called the
coefficient.)
Example: Add: (2x2 - 4) +
(x2 + 3x - 3)
Below are several
different ways to attack this example:
1.
Using a horizontal method to add like terms:
Remove parentheses.
Identify like terms. Group the like terms together.
Add the like terms.
(2x2
- 4) + (x2 + 3x - 3)
= 2x2
- 4 + x2 + 3x - 3
.. identify like terms
= 2x2
+ x2 + 3x - 4 - 3
.. group the like terms together
= 3x2 + 3x - 7
... add the like terms
2.
Using a vertical method to add like terms:
Arrange the like terms so that they are lined up under one another in
vertical columns, adding 0 place holders if necessary. Add the like terms in each column following the
rules for adding signed numbers.
2x2
+ 0x - 4
+ x2 + 3x - 3 3x2 + 3x - 7
3.
Using algebra tiles
to add like terms:
Key:
= x²
(2x2 - 4) + (x2 + 3x - 3)
4.
Using the
Distributive Property to add like terms:
When
you are adding the coefficients (the numbers in front of the variables) of
like terms together, you are actually using the distributive property in
reverse.
dd like terms by
adding the numerical portion of the terms, following the rules for adding signed numbers.
