document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=38476>Question 38476</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> When simplifying expressions, how are like terms determined? </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #24052 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=fractalier><B>fractalier(6550)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=fractalier><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=fractalier><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=24052\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Like terms are characterized by the exact same variables raised to the exact same powers...coefficients do not matter...<BR>\n" );
document.write( "For example,<BR>\n" );
document.write( "5(x^2)(y^6)(z^3) and -9(x^2)(y^6)(z^3) are like terms but<BR>\n" );
document.write( "5(x^2)(y^6)(z^3) and -9(x^3)(y^5)(z^2) are not.  <BR>\n" );
document.write( "Not only must the letters be the same, but the powers of those letters must be exactly the same... </SPAN>\n" );
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