Like Terms

Terms which have the same variables and corresponding powers and/or roots. Like terms can be combined using addition an subtraction. Terms that are not like cannot be combined using addition or subtraction.

Example:     5x²y and 8x²y are like terms.

                   5x²y + 8x²y simplifies to 13x²y
                   5x²y – 8x²y simplifies to –3x²y