What is what to do with exponents when adding?

When it comes to adding expressions with <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/exponents">exponents</a>, you can only directly combine terms that have the same base and the same exponent. These are called "like terms".

• Like Terms: Terms with the same base raised to the same power. For example, 3x^2 and 5x^2 are like terms because they both have the base x raised to the power of 2.

• Unlike Terms: Terms with different bases or different exponents. For example, 2x^3 and 4x^2 are unlike terms because they have the same base but different <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/exponents">exponents</a>. Also, 2x^2 and 3y^2 are unlike terms because they have different bases.

How to Add Like Terms:

1. Identify Like Terms: Look for terms that have the same variable (base) raised to the same power.

2. Combine Coefficients: Add (or subtract) the coefficients (the numerical part) of the like terms. The exponent and variable part remain the same.

Example:

3x^2 + 5x^2 = (3 + 5)x^2 = 8x^2

What to Do with Unlike Terms:

You cannot combine unlike terms when adding. Simply write them out in the expression.

Example:

2x^3 + 4x^2 remains as 2x^3 + 4x^2 because x^3 and x^2 are unlike terms.