How do I combine like terms expression -16x plus 2 plus 18x?

-16x + 2 + 18x

'Like' terms are those which contain the same factor; in this case 'x' So taking -16x + 18x =. 18x - 16x = 2x

So it becomes 2x + 2

NB The '2' , on its own is a constant, so is not a 'like' term.

Similarly, something like 2x^3 + 3x^2 + x^3 - x^2 .

The 'x^3' are like terms , and the 'x^2' are like terms, but 'x^3' is unlike to 'x^2'.

So collecting like terms it would become 4x^3 + 2x^2 .

When you do something like 2x^2(2x + 1) , this is NOT collecting like terms , but FACTORING.

Hope that helps!!!!!