An algebraic expression consists of terms, for instance 3y + 4x – 2y + 7x has four terms. If there are like terms in an algebraic expression, we should always simplify the expression by collecting the like terms.

Because multiplication is commutative, ab and ba mean exactly the same thing (which other arithmetical operation is commutative?)

Example

Exercise

Let’s complete exercise 2A below from page 27 of the textbook:

The answers are below: