Simplify 5m - m

Step by step

The question

Question: simplify 5m − m.

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 m terms go together.

Each colour is one kind.

5m − m is 4m.

It is like 5 apples take away 1 apple: that is 4 apples.

So the expression is 4m.

2 Check

Let's check.

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

We put it into the start.

Now into our answer.

Both give 8.

Same value, so 4m is right!

Let's look back.

First: group like terms.

Last: check.