Help Please!
Identify the like terms.
3q, –3p, 3pq, –11pq

A. 3pq and –11pq
B. 3q, –3p, and 3pq
C. 3q and 3pq
D. –3p and 3pq

Question

Help Please! 
Identify the like terms.
3q, –3p, 3pq, –11pq
 
  A. 3pq and –11pq
  B. 3q, –3p, and 3pq
  C. 3q and 3pq 
  D. –3p and 3pq

whpalmer4 · Answer

Like terms have the same "shape", so to speak.  For example, 4x and 2x are like terms, because they have numbers (2, 4) and they both have x's, and the x's are the same power.  They don't have any other factors.  

4x and 2y are not like terms, because they have different variables (one has x, the other y).

4x and 4x^2 are also not like terms, because they have different powers of the matching variables.

whpalmer4 · Answer

Remember that a term without a number has an invisible number of 1, so x and 4x are like terms because they could be written as 1x and 4x and thus have the same "shape".  Also remember that multiplication is commutative, so the order doesn't matter.  4xy and 2yx are like terms, because 2yx can also be written 2xy.

anonymous · Answer

so  it would be A.?

whpalmer4 · Answer

Yes!

anonymous · Answer

awesome! 
Thank you so much!!!!!!
:)