➕ Algebra 1 · Equations
Combining Like Terms cheat sheet
Everything you need on one page. Print it, or switch on test-yourself mode to blur the answers and check your memory.
Like or not?
- Like: same letters, same exponents (3s and −8s)
- Constants are like each other (4 and −9)
- Not like: 5s and 5s2
- Not like: 3s and 2u
The move
- Add the coefficients, keep the variable part
- ax + bx = (a + b)x
- 3s + 5s = 8s, never 8s2
Awkward cases
- p means 1p and −p means −1p
- The sign stays with the term on its right
- A minus before parentheses flips every sign inside
- Terms that cancel leave 0: 5h − 5h = 0
Worked example
- 3x + 5 + 2x − 1
- = (3x + 2x) + (5 − 1)
- = 5x + 4
- Check x = 3: both give 19
Formulas
- Combine rule: ax + bx = (a + b)x
- Minus before a group: −(a + b) = −a − b and −(a − b) = −a + b
- Cancelling: ax − ax = 0
Combining Like Terms cheat sheet from HighSchoolQ.com, for personal study use.