Similar Terms

similar terms

[¦sim·ə·lər ¦tərms] (mathematics) Terms that contain the same unknown factors and the same powers of these factors. Also known as like terms.

Similar Terms

 

Similar terms of a polynomial are monomials in the polynomial that differ only in their coefficients or sign or are identical; for example, the similar terms in the polynomial 2a + 5a3 b + 3ab2 - 3a3b are 5a3b and - 3a3b. Similar terms can be replaced by a single term equal to their algebraic sum (reduction of similar terms).