Question 2 of 12, Step 1 of 1 Simplify the algebraic expression by combining like (or similar) terms. Answer

Combining like terms can make algebra feel like putting together a puzzle—everything fits in its own special place! For instance, if you have 3x + 4x, just add those together to get 7x. It's like having 3 apples and then getting 4 more, resulting in a tasty total of 7 apples! Now, common mistakes often occur when folks treat unlike terms as if they can be combined. For example, 2x + 5y cannot be added together since they're different flavors—an x term and a y term. Remember to keep those different colored apples separate while counting to avoid confusion!