Like and Unlike Terms

In this section we will discuss about like and unlike terms in solving algebraic expressions.

Like terms : The terms having the same literal (variable) with same exponents are called Like terms.

Example: 1) 12x and -5x 2) 4x² and ½ x²

Unlike terms : The terms having the same variable with different exponents or different variable with same exponents are called Unlike terms.

Example : 1) 5x and 5y 2) 2x² and 3y²

Some more examples :

1)In the algebraic expression 5x²y + 7xy² -3xy – 4yx²

Like terms	5x2y and – 4yx2
Unlike terms	7xy2 and -3xy

2)In the algebraic expression a² - 3b² + 7b² - 9a² + 6ab + 5

Like terms	Unlike terms
a2 and - 9a2	a2and 6ab
- 3b2 and 7b2	7b2

3)

Like terms	Unlike terms	Reason
	16x; 16y	Variables are not same
x2y ; -7x2y	-	Variables as well as exponents are same
-	9ab ; - 6b	1st term contains ab and 2nd term contains 'b' only

Note: Only like terms can be added or subtracted.

Practice

(Q.1) Sate whether a given pair of terms is of like or unlike terms.
(a) 23, 203
(b) 12mn, 12m²n²
(c) 3pr², 12pr²
(d) 2x, 3y
(e) 14ab, 21ab
(f) –3x, x
(g) 4x² + 3y²-2x² + y²
(h) -2a² + 5b²-a² + b³
(i) 12, 13a, -1/2b, a, -1/2

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Algebraic Expressions

• Like and Unlike terms in Algebra
• Addition of algebraic expressions
• Subtraction of algebraic expressions
• Multiplication of algebraic expressions
• Division of Algebraic Expressions

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