Question

From each of the following groups of terms, form groups of like terms.

(1) 5x, –7y, 6y, –3m, 2z, m, –y , 5z, −8x
(2) 4x², –7y³, –10x², – y³, 5y³
(3) 2x²yz, xyz², xzy, –6xyz², –xyz, 7yzx²

Answer 1

The terms having the same algebraic factors are called like terms. They may have different numerical factors. Here are the solutions for the subparts:

(1) The terms having the same algebraic factors but different numerical factors can be grouped as:
5x, –8x; –7y, 6y, –y; –3m, m; 2z, 5z

(2) The terms having the same algebraic factors but different numerical factors can be grouped as:
4x², –10 x²; –7y³, – y³, 5y³

(3) The terms having the same algebraic factors but different numerical factors can be grouped as:
2x²yz, 7yzx² (= 7x²yz); xyz², –6 xyz²; xzy, –xyz (= –xzy)