How to Deal with Like Terms Performing While Adding Polynomials?

Rational expression is the fraction with more than one term out of which at least one terms is the polynomial. The rational expression is commonly represented as 2x²+4x+25, where x is the variable and power 2 is the exponent.

Adding variables with exponents of two or three fractions, you need to find like terms out of three expressions. You need to perform addition or subtraction on coefficients, leaving the variables and exponents as it is. While adding and subtracting terms with powers, the terms that combine always have exactly the same variables with exactly same powers.

Here are five steps that describe adding square roots or terms having any other power:

1.       Determine if the terms are numbers or the exponents

2.       Find out like terms or terms with same variables and same powers

3.       Ensure that you add numbers with same type of exponents (like terms)

4.       Simplify your expression by adding like terms.

Consider adding of various types of terms as an example:

1.       3x¹ = 4x¹ = 7x¹

2.       2x² + 4x² = 6x²

3.       5x² + 9y² = 5x² + 9y² (none of the terms as like terms)

4.       Adding three fractions/polynomials

2x² + 3xy + 3

+             3x² + 5xy + 6

+             4x² +   xy + 3       

-----------------

                9x2 +9xy + 12

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