Simplify 2x + x + 4x

Step by step

The question

Question: simplify 2x + x + 4x.

Simplify means: write it shorter, with the same value.

1 Group like terms

Terms are the parts between the + and − signs.

Like terms are the same kind: same letters, same powers.

All the x terms go together.

Each colour is one kind.

2x + x + 4x is 7x.

So the expression is 7x.

2 Check

Let's check.

We pick a number for each letter: x = 2.

We put it into the start.

Now into our answer.

Both give 14.

Same value, so 7x is right!

Let's look back.

First: group like terms.

Last: check.