How is a radical considered a "like term"?

1 Answer
Jan 15, 2015

Like terms are terms whose variables are the same. If both terms do not have variables, then they are still like terms.

For example,

#4x# and #293x# are like terms.

#5xy# and #7y# are not like terms.

#sqrt 5 x# and # 65x# are like terms.

#56xy^2# and #7xy# are not like terms.

#5# and #9284# are like terms.

As to your question, radicals on their own are like terms because they all do not have a variable.

#sqrt 43# and #sqrt 53# are like terms, as there are no variables on both of them.