In math, a term is a number or the product of a number and variable. The number 5 is a term. 5x and 5x^2
2
are also terms. Like terms are terms that have the same variable and are raised to the same exponent. For example, 5c and 8c are like terms. They have the same variable and are not raised to an exponent. In other words, their exponent is 1. 14 and 11 are also like terms. They have no variable and their exponent is 1. 7p^5
5
and 4p^5
5
are like terms because they share a variable and are both raised to the fifth power.

Which of the following pairs of terms are like terms?

A
3x and 2b

B
3a^5
5
and a^5
5


C
7 and 7y

D
3p and 4p^2
2