public boolean like(Term t){
		if(t.exponent() != this.exponent()) return false;
		//calculate the length of the terms, minus any coefficient
		int aOffset = t.hasCoefficient() ? 1 : 0, bOffset = this.hasCoefficient() ? 1 : 0;
		int aLength = t.length() - aOffset, bLength = this.length() - bOffset;
		if(aLength != bLength) return false;
		//now make sure all other parts of the term are the same
		for(int a = aOffset, b = bOffset; a < t.length() && b < this.length(); a++, b++){
			if(!t.get(a).equals(this.get(b))) return false;
		}
		return true;
	}