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 \(2b\) ...

Indices show where a number has been multiplied by itself, eg squared or cubed, or to show roots of numbers, eg square root. Check your understanding of the process with this National 5 Maths quiz.