Simplify 5x + 3y − 2x + y.

Step by step

The question

Question: simplify 5x + 3y − 2x + y.

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.

We move like terms next to each other.

Each term takes its sign with it.

5x − 2x is 3x.

It is like 5 apples take away 2 apples: that is 3 apples.

y alone means 1y.

3y + y is 4y.

So the expression is 3x + 4y.

2 Check

Let's check.

We pick a small number for each letter: x = 2, y = 3.

Any number works, and a small one keeps the sums easy.

We put it into the question.

Now into our answer.

Both give 18.

Same value, so 3x + 4y is right!

Let's look back.

First: group like terms.

Last: check.