COMBINING LIKE TERMS Maze, Riddle, Color by Number Coloring Page ... - Free Printable

Let’s solve this step by step.

We are asked to group like terms together.
“Like terms” means terms that have the same variable part — same letter(s) and same exponent(s). Constants (just numbers with no variables) are also like terms with each other.

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First, let’s list all the terms from the grid:

From row 1:
-48, 3x, ½

Row 2:
5y, 8, 2y²

Row 3:
7x², 8x, 2x³

Row 4:
4x³, 6, y

Row 5:
x², ¼y², 2x²

Row 6:
7y, 2x, -3x³

Row 7:
-5x, -3y, 9y²

Row 8:
-15x², -x², 8x³

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Now, let’s group them by type.

Group 1: Constants (no variables)

These are just plain numbers:
-48, ½, 8, 6

Wait — ½ is a fraction, but it’s still a constant. So yes, include it.

So constants:
→ -48, ½, 8, 6

But wait — let me double-check:
Original list of constants:
-48 (row1), 8 (row2), 6 (row4), ½ (row1) → Yes, those are all.

Actually, ½ is in row1, column3 — yes.

So constants: -48, 8, 6, ½

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Group 2: Terms with “x” (to the first power)

Look for terms like: ax (where a is a number)

From list:
3x (row1), 8x (row3), 2x (row6), -5x (row7)

Also check: any others?
No — 7x² is x squared, not x.
So:
→ 3x, 8x, 2x, -5x

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Group 3: Terms with “x²”

7x² (row3), x² (row5), 2x² (row5), -15x² (row8), -x² (row8)

Note: -x² means -1x², so it’s like term.

So:
→ 7x², x², 2x², -15x², -x²

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Group 4: Terms with “x³”

2x³ (row3), 4x³ (row4), -3x³ (row6), 8x³ (row8)

So:
→ 2x³, 4x³, -3x³, 8x³

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Group 5: Terms with “y” (first power)

5y (row2), y (row4), 7y (row6), -3y (row7)

Note: y = 1y, so it’s like term.

So:
→ 5y, y, 7y, -3y

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Group 6: Terms with “y²”

2y² (row2), ¼y² (row5), 9y² (row7)

So:
→ 2y², ¼y², 9y²

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Let me verify I didn’t miss any term.

Total terms in grid: 8 rows × 3 columns = 24 terms.

Let’s count how many we grouped:

Constants: 4 terms (-48, 8, 6, ½)
x: 4 terms (3x, 8x, 2x, -5x)
x²: 5 terms (7x², x², 2x², -15x², -x²)
x³: 4 terms (2x³, 4x³, -3x³, 8x³)
y: 4 terms (5y, y, 7y, -3y)
y²: 3 terms (2y², ¼y², 9y²)

Add them up: 4 + 4 + 5 + 4 + 4 + 3 = 24 ✔ Perfect.

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Final Answer:

Grouped like terms:

Constants:
-48, 8, 6, ½

Terms with x:
3x, 8x, 2x, -5x

Terms with x²:
7x², x², 2x², -15x², -x²

Terms with x³:
2x³, 4x³, -3x³, 8x³

Terms with y:
5y, y, 7y, -3y

Terms with y²:
2y², ¼y², 9y²