Page accessed [ ] times since 1 June 2006
Page written by Thomasin Smith and Kee Teo with assistance from Rebecca Keen and Judy Edwards.
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Like TermsDescriptionA term is a number, variable or the product of a number and variable(s). Here are some terms:
A constant term is a number. A coefficient is the numeric factor of a term. A constant term is a special case of a coefficient. The coefficients of the terms below are highlighted in red:
The coefficient of x =
1x is 1
and the coefficient of -x = -1x
is -1. The coefficient of Two terms are called like terms
if they differ by a constant factor. That is, only their numerical coefficients
are different. Exercise 1.The following are like terms:
And these are like terms:
But none of the following are like terms:
as the power of x differs in the different terms. Exercise 1.Got it? Good! Now try some of the following exercises. Each time you click on "Next Exercise" a new exercise will appear. |