Combining Like Terms Worksheets

Free Combine Like Terms Worksheets and Answer Keys

Free Combining Like Terms Worksheets

Are you looking for a free Combine Like Terms worksheet or two to give yourself some extra practice with this important math skill?

This page shares a free collection of combining like terms practice worksheets that are available as PDF files that are super easy to download, print, and share. Plus, each combine like terms worksheet includes a full answer key as well as a solved sample problem at the top of each page that you can use as a reference.

To download any of the combining like terms worksheets available in the library below, simply click on any of the blue text links to preview the worksheet. From there, you will have to option to download and/or print the worksheet as a PDF file.

If you need a more in-depth review of how to simplify expressions by combining like terms, continue on below the worksheet library to view of review section where we will recap how to combine like terms by working through a few example problems.

All of the combining like terms worksheets shared below are sample worksheets from the Mashup Math Worksheet Libraries available on our website.

Quick Links: How to Download/Print

Combining Like Terms Worksheet Library

Combine Like Terms (3-4 Terms)

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Combine Like Terms (4+ Terms)

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Combine Like Terms (Mixed)

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Combining Like Terms: Quick Recap

If you need some help with solving problems on any combine like terms worksheet shared above, then this quick review of how to combine like terms will teach you everything you need to know.

For starters, in math, a term refers to any one single number or expression that is a part of a larger expression or equation.

For example the expression 3x + 5y - 2x + 4y has four terms:

  • 3x

  • 5y

  • -2x

  • 4y

Notice that two of the four terms are x-terms (3x and -2x) and the other two terms are y-terms (5y and 4y). With this in mind, we can simplify this expression by combining like terms as follows:

  • Combine the x-terms: 3x - 2x = x

  • Combine the y-terms: 5y + 4y = 9y

So, we can conclude that:

  • 3x + 5y - 2x + 4y = x + 9y

Note that both expressions, 3x + 5y - 2x + 4y, and, x + 9y, mean the same thing. However, x + 9y is a simplified version which we achieved by combining like terms.

 

Figure 01: Combine Like Terms Worksheet Review

 

Figure 01 above illustrates a different way of thinking about how to simplify an expression by combining like terms. In this case, instead of variables, we have different kinds of fruits. However, the process is still completely the same.

Of course, the problems on each combining like terms worksheet above do not have fruits as variables. So, let’s work through one more problem, which also has three variables: x, y, and z.

Example: Simplify by combining like terms: 3x + 2y + 5x -3z + 7y + z

We can simplify this expression by color-coding each variable term and then combining them as follows:

  • x: 3x + 5x = 8x

  • y: 2y + 7y = 9y

  • z: -3z + z = -2z

Now can continue onto the next step of combining like terms by combining each result from above into one simplified expression:

  • 8x +9y - 2z

The process of solving this combine like terms worksheet problem by color-coding is illustrated in Figure 02 below.

 

Figure 02: How to combine like terms by color coding.

 

Do you need more help with simplifying expressions by combining like terms (and how solve math problems like the ones included on the combine like terms worksheets above)?

If so, head on over to our Free Step-by-Step Guide to Combining Like Terms, which shares a more in-depth review of how to combine like terms along with several step-by-step examples and practice problems.

By working through our free guide to combining like terms and trying the many practice problems available on our combining like terms worksheets above, you will surely gain the practice and experience that you will need to master the skill of simplifying expressions and equations by combining like terms. This simple math skill is incredibly important because it is a foundational skill that you will need in order to be successful in Algebra and beyond, so make sure that you have a strong grasp of this topic before moving forward to something new!