Combining Like Terms

Front

What does it mean to combine like terms in an expression?

Back

Combining like terms means to simplify an expression by adding or subtracting terms that have the same variable raised to the same power.

Front

What is a like term?

Back

Like terms are terms that have the same variable(s) raised to the same power. For example, 3x and 5x are like terms, while 3x and 3y are not.

Front

How do you simplify the expression 3x - (x - 6) - 12?

Back

To simplify, distribute the negative sign: 3x - x + 6 - 12 = 2x - 6.

Front

What is the result of simplifying 4(x - 5)?

Back

The result is 4x - 20.

Front

How do you simplify the expression (3d - 5) + (d + 3)?

Back

Combine like terms: 3d + d - 5 + 3 = 4d - 2.

Front

What is the simplified form of (-8x + 1) - (8x - 1)?

Back

The simplified form is -16x + 2.

Front

How do you combine the terms in (8x + 3) + (12x + 5)?

Back

Combine like terms: 8x + 12x + 3 + 5 = 20x + 8.

Front

What is the distributive property?

Back

The distributive property states that a(b + c) = ab + ac, allowing you to multiply a single term by each term inside a parenthesis.

Front

What is the first step in simplifying an expression with parentheses?

Back

The first step is to apply the distributive property if necessary, or to remove the parentheses by combining like terms.

Front

What is the importance of keeping track of signs when combining like terms?

Back

Keeping track of signs is crucial because it affects the outcome of the simplification process; incorrect signs can lead to wrong answers.