UK Secondary (7-11)
Lesson

Remember that we can add or subtract algebraic terms, such as $-3x+5x$3x+5x, as long as the terms have the same variable part.

In this example of $-3x+5x$3x+5x each term has a variable part of $x$x, but different constants multiplied in front (which are $-3$3 and $5$5).

We can combine these like terms by adding their coefficients:

$-3x+5x=2x$3x+5x=2x

In general the variable part doesn't have to be $x$x, and could be any algebraic expression including surds.

#### Exploration

##### example 1

Consider the expression $6\sqrt{y}+5\sqrt{y}$6y+5y.

Each term in the expression has the variable part $\sqrt{y}$y and differ by the constants multiplied out front, which are $6$6 and $5$5.

So, the terms $6\sqrt{y}$6y and $5\sqrt{y}$5y are like terms and we can combine them by adding their coefficients:

$6\sqrt{y}+5\sqrt{y}=11\sqrt{y}$6y+5y=11y

In this way we can view $\sqrt{y}$y as we would with any other variable part, since after all it's just a placeholder for a number we do not know.

##### example 2

Let's now consider a more involved expression, such as $-81\sqrt{x^2y}+50\sqrt{x^2y}$81x2y+50x2y.

As before, we can view the variable part $\sqrt{x^2y}$x2y as just another variable representing a number. In this way the two terms still have the same variable part, and so they are like terms.

So we can combine the coefficients just like we did before:

$-81\sqrt{x^2y}+50\sqrt{x^2y}=-31\sqrt{x^2y}$81x2y+50x2y=31x2y

#### Worked example

Simplify the expression $5\sqrt{x^2y}+x\sqrt{y}-\sqrt{xy}$5x2y+xyxy where $x$x and $y$y are positive.

Think: We first want to identify which terms are like terms.

We know that $5\sqrt{x^2y}$5x2y and $-\sqrt{xy}$xy are not like terms, since their variable parts are different.

However $5\sqrt{x^2y}$5x2y can be rewritten in the form $5x\sqrt{y}$5xy, and so it is a like term with $x\sqrt{y}$xy.

Do:

 $5\sqrt{x^2y}+x\sqrt{y}-\sqrt{xy}$5√x2y+x√y−√xy $=$= $5x\sqrt{y}+x\sqrt{y}-\sqrt{xy}$5x√y+x√y−√xy (Since $\sqrt{x^2}=x$√x2=x for positive $x$x) $=$= $6x\sqrt{y}-\sqrt{xy}$6x√y−√xy (Combining like terms)

So the resulting simplified expression is:

$6x\sqrt{y}-\sqrt{xy}$6xyxy

#### Practice questions

##### question 1

Simplify the expression $11\sqrt{a}-\sqrt{9a}$11a9a.

##### QUESTION 2

Simplify the expression $\sqrt[3]{512v}-5\sqrt[3]{v}$3512v53v.

##### question 3

Simplify the expression $\sqrt{ax^5}+x^2\sqrt{ax}$ax5+x2ax, where $x$x represents a positive number.