Combining like terms activity - Free Printable

Let’s solve each problem step by step. We’re combining like terms — that means adding or subtracting numbers with numbers, and variables (like x or y) with the same variable.

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#1: -7 + 13x + 2x + 8

Step 1: Combine the x terms → 13x + 2x = 15x
Step 2: Combine the numbers → -7 + 8 = 1
Final: 15x + 1

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#2: 9 + 7y - 2 - 5y

Step 1: Combine the y terms → 7y - 5y = 2y
Step 2: Combine the numbers → 9 - 2 = 7
Final: 2y + 7

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#3: 2 + 3x - 4x + 6

Step 1: Combine the x terms → 3x - 4x = -x
Step 2: Combine the numbers → 2 + 6 = 8
Final: -x + 8 (or you can write it as 8 - x)

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#4: 5 + 2x + 2

Step 1: There’s only one x term → 2x
Step 2: Combine the numbers → 5 + 2 = 7
Final: 2x + 7

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#5: 2(4x - 1) + x

Step 1: Distribute the 2 → 2 × 4x = 8x, 2 × (-1) = -2
So now we have: 8x - 2 + x
Step 2: Combine x terms → 8x + x = 9x
Step 3: Keep the number → -2
Final: 9x - 2

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#6: 6x + 2(x + 4)

Step 1: Distribute the 2 → 2 × x = 2x, 2 × 4 = 8
Now we have: 6x + 2x + 8
Step 2: Combine x terms → 6x + 2x = 8x
Step 3: Keep the number → 8
Final: 8x + 8

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#7: 3(x + 5) - 10

Step 1: Distribute the 3 → 3 × x = 3x, 3 × 5 = 15
Now we have: 3x + 15 - 10
Step 2: Combine numbers → 15 - 10 = 5
Final: 3x + 5

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#8: 15x - (x - 4)

Step 1: The minus sign in front of the parentheses means distribute -1 →
-1 × x = -x, -1 × (-4) = +4
Now we have: 15x - x + 4
Step 2: Combine x terms → 15x - x = 14x
Step 3: Keep the number → +4
Final: 14x + 4

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Final Answer:
#1: 15x + 1
#2: 2y + 7
#3: -x + 8
#4: 2x + 7
#5: 9x - 2
#6: 8x + 8
#7: 3x + 5
#8: 14x + 4