Question

Solve the equations by combining like terms. Show all the steps: 16x − 4x = -48

Answer 1

Do the Xs have to be the same number

Answer 2

You can combine like/similar terms if the number has the same x at the end, or if the like terms are all regular numbers.
Since 16x and -4x both have an x, you can combine them like you usually would.
16x - 4x = 12x
12x = -48
If you want to solve the equation, you’d divide both numbers by 12 to get your singular x value.
x = -4

Hope that helped! :)