Which set of terms are considered like terms?

• A. 2x and 2y
• B. 5a² and 3a²
• C. 4b and 6c
• D. 7m and 9n

Answer: (B)

Like terms are terms that contain the same variable raised to the same power, allowing them to be combined through addition or subtraction. In this context, the correct choice includes 5a² and 3a² because both terms contain the same variable, 'a', raised to the second power. This means you can add or subtract them to simplify expressions. The result would be a simple combination of their coefficients, leading to 8a².

Other sets of terms presented in the question do not meet the criteria for being like terms. Each contains different variables or powers, which prevents them from being combined in the same manner. For instance, one set contains different variables entirely, while the others have variables raised to different powers or different letters, which means they cannot be simplified together. This understanding reinforces the importance of identifying and combining like terms when simplifying algebraic expressions.