Math Doubts

Addition of Unlike algebraic terms

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A mathematical operation of adding two or more unlike algebraic terms is called the addition of unlike algebraic terms. It is also called as the summation of the unlike algebraic terms.

Introduction

Two or more unlike algebraic terms are connected in algebraic mathematics by a plus sign for adding them mathematically. Actually, the unlike algebraic terms have different literal coefficients and it makes the addition impossible. Therefore, the addition of unlike algebraic terms is simply written as an expression by writing the terms in a row with a plus sign between every two terms.

$2ax$, $3by$ and $4cz$ are three unlike algebraic terms.

First step

Write all the unlike terms in a row by displaying a plus sign between every two terms.
$2ax+3by+4cz$

  1. The literal coefficient of $2$ is $ax$
  2. The literal coefficient of $3$ is $by$
  3. The literal coefficient of $4$ is $cz$

The literal coefficients of them are different. Hence, they cannot be added same as the addition of the like algebraic terms. So, the addition of them is simply represented by an expression.

Examples

Look at the following examples to learn how to add two or more unlike algebraic terms in mathematics.

$(1)\,\,\,\,\,\,$ $3a+4b+5c$

$(2)\,\,\,\,\,\,$ $4x^2y+7xy^2$

$(3)\,\,\,\,\,\,$ $4cd^2e^3+4c^2de^3+4c^2d^3e+4c^2d^2e^3$

$(4)\,\,\,\,\,\,$ $g+2fg+3efg$

$(5)\,\,\,\,\,\,$ $4m+5m^2+6m^3+7m^4+8m^5$

Ashok Kumar B.E. - Founder of Math Doubts

Ashok Kumar, B.E.

Founder of Math Doubts

A Specialist in Mathematics, Physics, and Engineering with 14 years of experience helping students master complex concepts from basics to advanced levels with clarity and precision.