Question

How would you combine like terms with exponents? Do you add the exponents?

Answer 1

Answer: When you combine like terms in a algebraic expression, you do not add the exponents! When you combine like terms in an equation, such as a^2 and 4a^2, you only combine the numbers, not the exponents. The exponent attached to the number stays the same. a^2 and 4a^2 would be 5a^2.

Answer 2

Answer: When combining like terms, add or subtract the coefficients. Keep the exponents as they are.

Step-by-step explanation:

You can combine 2x^2 + 3x^2 to get 5x^2. If x =3, 3^2=9 So 2(3)^2 is 18 and 3(3)^2 is 27. 18+27=45 And 5(3)^2= 45. Same result!

You can not combine 2x^2 and 2x^3. If the value of x is 3, 2(3)^2 this term works out to =18 and 2(3)^3 =54

If you add the exponents x^5 becomes 2(3)^5 or 2×243=486. Vastly different values! Don't add exponents unless you are multiplying terms.