Chapter 11 · ICSE Class 7 Mathematics

Fundamental Concepts (Including Fundamental Operations)

Take your first steps into algebra — using letters to stand for numbers, and combining like terms.

🔤 Chapter 11

BODMAS, the order of operations: brackets, orders, division/multiplication, addition/subtraction The BODMAS rule showing the order to solve a mathematical expression: first brackets, then orders (powers and roots), then division and multiplication, and finally addition and subtraction B O DM AS Brackets Orders Div / Mult Add / Sub Solve left to right, in this order e.g. 2 + 3 × 4 = 2 + 12 = 14 (not 20)
11.1

Terms, Like Terms, and Unlike Terms

An algebraic expression is built from terms — numbers, variables, or a combination joined by + or −. Like terms have the exact same variable part (e.g. 3x and 7x); unlike terms don't (e.g. 3x and 7y).

1

Are 4a and 9a like terms?

Yes, both have the same variable part, a

2

Are 5x and 5x² like terms?

No, since x and x² are different variable parts

11.2

Adding and Subtracting Like Terms

Like terms can be combined by adding or subtracting their numerical coefficients while keeping the variable part the same. Unlike terms cannot be combined this way.

1

Simplify: 5x + 3x

8x

2

Simplify: 7a + 3b − 2a + b

(7a − 2a) + (3b + b) = 5a + 4b

Practice

Exercises

1. Are 6p and 6q like terms?

2. Simplify: 9y − 4y

3. Simplify: 6m + 2n − 3m + 5n

4. Simplify: 8x + 3x − 2x

5. Simplify: 4a + 5b − a + 2b − 3a

Next chapter — Chapter 12: Simple Linear Equations 🧩 →