How do you combine like terms?

• A. By multiplying the coefficients
• B. By adding or subtracting the coefficients
• C. By altering the variable part
• D. By changing all terms to the highest power

Answer: (B)

To combine like terms, the process involves adding or subtracting the coefficients of the terms that have the same variable part. Like terms are defined as terms that share the same variable raised to the same power. For example, in the expression 3x + 5x, both terms have the variable x, so they can be combined. You would add the coefficients (3 and 5) to get a single term: 8x.

This method allows you to simplify expressions, making them easier to work with or solve. In contrast, simply multiplying coefficients, altering the variable part, or changing all terms to the highest power do not correctly follow the rules of combining like terms and would lead to incorrect results because they do not respect the relationship between the coefficients and the variable components of the terms.