Polynomials - Collecting like terms - IntoMath

In this lesson you will learn about different types of algebraic expressions: monomials, binomials, trinomials and polynomials. You will see how two monomials could be multiplied or added/subtracted. For example 2m × 3m = 6m² or 4m + 12m = 16m.

In math, a polynomial is an expression consisting of coefficients and variables. These coefficients and variables are called “terms”. Terms in a polynomial are separated by operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication. Variables have only positive integer exponents.

This lesson also explains how algebraic expressions with brackets can be simplified by distributing a monomial in front of the bracket by every term inside the bracket. For example, an expression 3(2s -3) could be expanded to 6s – 9.

This may be followed by collecting like terms (monomials within polynomials that only differ from each other by their coefficient) if there are more than one bracket.

More free math help and activities: intomath.org