You will need to know how to combine like terms. But what are like terms to begin with? Like terms are defined as two terms having the same variable(s) (or lack thereof) and are raised to the same power. In mathematics, something raised to the first power stays the same.
So, 5x and 10x are like terms because they both have the same variable and are raised to the first power. You don’t see the exponents because it doesn’t change the value of the terms.
To combine like terms, simplify add the coefficients and keep the common variable(s) and exponent.
3y + 2 + y + 6
3y + y + 8 <-- Combine the constants
4y + 8 <-- Combine the y-terms
So, 4y + 8 is the answer.
