SOLUTION: How to simplify expressions by collecting like terms E.G. 5d+3e-2d

Question 545954: How to simplify expressions by collecting like terms
E.G. 5d+3e-2d
Answer by JBarnum(2146) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
in this example there are 3 numbers with letters next to them
if the letters are the same and the exponents of those letters are the same then they can be combined like calculating regular numbers
all i did was switch places using the addition property so you can better see how the like terms are gathered

its also like this: so now only three d's remain.
there were no other like terms to simplify so this is the answer.
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example:

start by grouping like terms,(once your comfortable with this grouping process you will learn to calculate them in your head without having to group them saving you time on tests.) but until that point its best to group them to visually see what goes where.

0r is 0 times r which is 0

I hope this helps explain this section of math for you
the next step is multiplication and division:
this is more commonly seen as the FOIL(first outer inner last) method which you will use alot.
First: multiply these 2

Outer:

Inner:

Last:

add the results together

add like terms
and thats how multiplication works
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division

cancels 10x from top and leave 5x on bottom
.
cancels 20y from top and bottom leaving 10y on bottom
.
and thats how to combine like terms with division
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