Define unlike terms

Like Terms

Unlike Terms

Factors of Term

Before you understand what are unlike, you must know: What are terms ? What are coefficients ? What are variables ? Example 1: 2d, 5t, 10s, 234x, 2y In the above terms, do you notice something ? Yes, variables of all the above terms are different i.e. d, t, s, x, y. Example 2: 2x, 3x7, 5x4, 10x6 In the above terms you can observe that variable of terms are similar but power of variables are different term 2x has variable x with power 1 term 3x7 has variable x with power 7 term 5x4 has variable x with power 4 term 10x6 has variable x with power 6 So, from example 1 and 2, you we get that: Terms with different variables or term with different powers of same variable, are known as "UNLIKE TERMS" Check whether following are unlike terms or not ? Problem 1 = 3a, 4a Answer = No, they are not unlike terms as their variables i.e. "a" is same Problem 2 = 3x, 4y Answer = Yes, they are unlike terms as their variables are different i.e. "x, y" Problem 3 = 313x, 411x2 Answer = Yes, they are unlike terms as their variables are same i.e "x" but variables have different powers Problem 4 = 313cd, 411cd Answer = No, they are not unlike terms as their variables i.e. "cd" is same