How do you simplify the expression 3x + 5x?

To simplify the expression 3x + 5x, combine the like terms to get 8x.

In algebra, simplifying an expression means reducing it to its simplest form. When you have terms that are similar, known as "like terms," you can combine them. Like terms are terms that have the same variable raised to the same power. In the expression 3x + 5x, both terms are like terms because they both contain the variable x raised to the first power.

To combine these like terms, you simply add their coefficients. The coefficient is the number in front of the variable. In this case, the coefficients are 3 and 5. Adding these together gives you 3 + 5, which equals 8. Therefore, 3x + 5x simplifies to 8x.

This process of combining like terms is a fundamental skill in algebra and helps to make expressions easier to work with. It is particularly useful when solving equations or simplifying more complex algebraic expressions. Remember, you can only combine terms that have the same variable and the same exponent. For example, you cannot combine 3x and 5y because they have different variables.