Skip to content

Paper Together: sit a paper in a room with your friends.See how it works

Simplifying algebra practice questions with answers

Foundation · Grade 2 · Non-calculator

A second set of simplifying algebra questions for GCSE Maths. They are different from the ones on the topic page, so work through both. Try each question, then open the answer to check your working.

More questions

Question 1 Easy

Simplify 6p + 3q − 3p.

Show answer

Answer: 3p + 3q

  1. Collect the p terms: 6p − 3p = 3p.
  2. The 3q term has no like term, so it stays as 3q.
  • Method (1): Collect the p terms: 6p − 3p = 3p.
  • Accuracy (1): Answer 3p + 3q

Question 2 Easy

Simplify 4x + 9x.

Show answer

Answer: 13x

  1. 4x and 9x are like terms, because both have the letter x.
  2. Add the coefficients: 4 + 9 = 13.
  • Method (1): 4x and 9x are like terms, because both have the letter x.
  • Accuracy (1): Answer 13x

Question 3 Medium

Simplify 5x + 12x.

Show answer

Answer: 17x

  1. 5x and 12x are like terms, because both have the letter x.
  2. Add the coefficients: 5 + 12 = 17.
  • Method (1): 5x and 12x are like terms, because both have the letter x.
  • Accuracy (1): Answer 17x

Question 4 Medium

Simplify 5y + 5 + 13y + 1.

Show answer

Answer: 18y + 6

  1. Collect the y terms: 5 + 13 = 18, so 18y.
  2. Collect the numbers: 5 + 1 = 6.
  • Method (1): Collect the y terms: 5 + 13 = 18, so 18y.
  • Accuracy (1): Answer 18y + 6

Question 5 Hard

Simplify 6y + 2 + 16y + 2.

Show answer

Answer: 22y + 4

  1. Collect the y terms: 6 + 16 = 22, so 22y.
  2. Collect the numbers: 2 + 2 = 4.
  • Method (1): Collect the y terms: 6 + 16 = 22, so 22y.
  • Accuracy (1): Answer 22y + 4

Question 6 Hard

Simplify 5p + 6q − 2p.

Show answer

Answer: 3p + 6q

  1. Collect the p terms: 5p − 2p = 3p.
  2. The 6q term has no like term, so it stays as 6q.
  • Method (1): Collect the p terms: 5p − 2p = 3p.
  • Accuracy (1): Answer 3p + 6q

Exam-style question

A longer question with marks, in the style of a written paper. This is a Yumio practice question, not a past paper question.

Exam-style question 12 marks

Simplify 7y + 3 + 19y + 3.

Show answer

Answer: 26y + 6

  1. Collect the y terms: 7 + 19 = 26, so 26y.
  2. Collect the numbers: 3 + 3 = 6.
  3. The result is 26y + 6.
  • Method (1): Collect the y terms: 7 + 19 = 26, so 26y.
  • Accuracy (1): Answer 26y + 6

Quick checks

Short one-step questions. Pick an option before you open the answer.

Check 1

Simplify 6p + 3q − 4p.

  1. 2p + 3q
  2. 4p + 3q
  3. 12p + 3q
Show answer

2p + 3q The result is 2p + 3q.

Check 2

Simplify 3x + 24x.

  1. 27x
  2. 29x
  3. 37x
Show answer

27x The result is 27x.

Check 3

Simplify 3y + 5 + 25y + 2.

  1. 28y + 7
  2. 30y + 7
  3. 38y + 7
Show answer

28y + 7 The result is 28y + 7.

Check 4

Simplify 8p + 4q − 5p.

  1. 3p + 4q
  2. 5p + 4q
  3. 13p + 4q
Show answer

3p + 4q The result is 3p + 4q.

Check 5

Simplify 4x + 27x.

  1. 31x
  2. 33x
  3. 41x
Show answer

31x The result is 31x.

Check 6

Simplify 4y + 2 + 28y + 3.

  1. 32y + 5
  2. 34y + 5
  3. 42y + 5
Show answer

32y + 5 The result is 32y + 5.

Check 7

Simplify 6p + 5q − 2p.

  1. 4p + 5q
  2. 6p + 5q
  3. 14p + 5q
Show answer

4p + 5q The result is 4p + 5q.

Check 8

Simplify 5x + 30x.

  1. 35x
  2. 37x
  3. 45x
Show answer

35x The result is 35x.

Check 9

Simplify 5y + 3 + 31y + 1.

  1. 36y + 4
  2. 38y + 4
  3. 46y + 4
Show answer

36y + 4 The result is 36y + 4.

Check 10

Simplify 5p + 6q − 3p.

  1. 2p + 6q
  2. 4p + 6q
  3. 12p + 6q
Show answer

2p + 6q The result is 2p + 6q.

Check 11

Simplify 6x + 33x.

  1. 39x
  2. 41x
  3. 49x
Show answer

39x The result is 39x.

Check 12

Simplify 6y + 4 + 34y + 2.

  1. 40y + 6
  2. 42y + 6
  3. 50y + 6
Show answer

40y + 6 The result is 40y + 6.

Check 13

Simplify 7p + 2q − 4p.

  1. 3p + 2q
  2. 5p + 2q
  3. 13p + 2q
Show answer

3p + 2q The result is 3p + 2q.

Check 14

Simplify 7x + 36x.

  1. 43x
  2. 45x
  3. 53x
Show answer

43x The result is 43x.

Check 15

Simplify 7y + 5 + 37y + 3.

  1. 44y + 8
  2. 46y + 8
  3. 54y + 8
Show answer

44y + 8 The result is 44y + 8.

Keep going with Simplifying algebra

Practise free

Start free

AQA-style and Edexcel-style questions. Yumio is not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to AQA, Pearson Edexcel or any other exam board.

Next topicPractise free