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Collecting like terms means to simplify terms in expressions in which the variables are the same. In the expression \(5a + 2b + 3a - 6b\), the terms \(5a\) and \(+ 3a\) are like terms, as are \(2b\) and \(-6b\).

Simplify \(b + b + b + b\).

Adding the four like terms together gives \(4b\).

Simplify \(5m + 3m - 2m\).

In this expression, all the terms are like terms as the variable in each term is \(m\). Simplify the expression in order:

\(5m + 3m = 8m\)

\(8m - 2m = 6m\)

Simplify \(a \times a\).

Multiplying a number or letter by itself is called squaring. This means \(a \times a = a^2\) (read as 'a squared'). In \(a^2\), the 2 is known as the index number or power. Powers tell us how many times a number or letter has been multiplied by itself.

Simplify \(b \times b \times b\).

In this example, \(b\) is being multiplied by itself three times. The power of \(b\) will be three, so, \(b \times b \times b = b^3\).