M6|L20 Combining Like Terms (Part 1)Sign out

Question

Write an equivalent expression with the fewest possible terms.
First, write subtraction as adding the opposite.
5a+1b−2a+3b
= 5a + 1b +
+ 3b
You got it!
Next, rewrite the order of the addends. Your expression should show all of the a's grouped together and all of the b's grouped together.
5a+1b−2a+3b

5a
+
−2a
+
1b
+
3b
Great job!
Now, write an equivalent expression with the fewest possible terms.
5a+1b−2a+3b
= 5a + 1b + −2a + 3b
= 5a + −2a + 1b + 3b

=

Answer 1

To combine like terms, we will group the \(a\) terms together and the \(b\) terms together.

Starting from:

\[ 5a + (-2a) + 1b + 3b \]

Now, we combine the \(a\) terms:

\[ 5a - 2a = 3a \]

And we combine the \(b\) terms:

\[ 1b + 3b = 4b \]

Putting it all together, the equivalent expression with the fewest possible terms is:

\[ 3a + 4b \]