Combining like terms in algebra can seem hard at first, but it’s really not so bad once you get the hang of it. Here are some easy steps to help you:

1. Find Like Terms: Look for terms that have the same letters and powers. For example, in $3x^2$ and $5x^2$, both terms are like terms because they both have $x^2$.

2. Group Them Together: Write all the like terms next to each other. For instance, in the expression $2x + 3x - 4 + 5$, you would group $2x$ and $3x$ together.

3. Add or Subtract the Numbers: Combine the numbers in front of the like terms. In our example, $2x + 3x$ becomes $5x$.

4. Rewrite the Expression: Finally, put everything back together nicely. So, $5x - 4 + 5$ simplifies to $5x + 1$.

And that’s it! Just follow these steps, and simplifying will become a lot easier.