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Collecting Like Terms

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Collecting Like Terms

Collecting Like Terms

Algebraic expressions with variables

🔍 Part 1: Identifying Like Terms

1. Circle the pairs of like terms in each group:

Group A: 3x, 5y, -2x, 4z, 7x

Group B: 2a, 3b, -5a, 6c, 8a

Group C: 4m, 2n, -3m, 5p, -6m

2. Which of these terms are like terms with 5x? (Check all that apply)

-3x

5y

7x

x

2xy

3. True or False: 3x² and 5x are like terms?

True

False

✏️ Part 2: Simplifying Single Variable Expressions

4. Simplify these expressions by collecting like terms:

a) 3x + 5x - 2x = ___________

b) 7y - 4y + 2y = ___________

c) 2a + 6a - 3a + a = ___________

d) 8m - 5m - 2m + 4m = ___________

5. Show your working to simplify: 4x + 7 - 2x + 3

🎯 Part 3: Multiple Variable Expressions

6. Simplify these expressions with multiple variables:

a) 3x + 4y - 2x + 5y = ___________

b) 5a + 2b - 3a + 7b = ___________

c) 6m + 3n - 4m + 2n - m = ___________

d) 2p + 5q + 3r - p + 2q - 4r = ___________

7. Show your working to simplify: 7x + 3y - 4x + 2y + 5x - y

🧩 Part 4: Matching Activity

8. Match each expression with its simplified form:
1. 5x + 3x - 2x
2. 4a + 2b - a + 3b
3. 7y - 3y + y
4. 2m + 5n - 4m + n
A. 3a + 5b
B. 6x
C. 5y
D. -2m + 6n

🚀 Part 5: Challenge Questions

9. Simplify these more complex expressions:

a) 3x² + 2x + 5x² - 4x + x² = ___________

b) 2xy + 3x + 4xy - x + 5xy = ___________

c) 5a + 3b - 2c + 4a - b + 6c = ___________

10. Show your working to simplify: 4x² + 3xy - 2x² + 5xy + x² - xy
11. Create your own expression with at least 6 terms and 3 different variables, then simplify it:

My expression: _________________________________

💭 Part 6: Reflection

12. Explain in your own words what "like terms" means:
13. What strategy do you use to collect like terms in expressions with multiple variables?
14. Circle the most challenging part of this worksheet for you:

Identifying like terms

Single variable expressions

Multiple variable expressions

Expressions with powers (x², xy)

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