Simplifying Algebraic Expressions by Combining Like Terms and Distributive Property

Front

What is a like term in algebra?

Back

Like terms are terms that have the same variable raised to the same power. For example, 3x and 5x are like terms.

Front

How do you combine like terms?

Back

To combine like terms, add or subtract the coefficients of the terms that have the same variable. For example, 3x + 5x = (3 + 5)x = 8x.

Front

What is the distributive property?

Back

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

Front

Simplify: 5a + 2b - 3a + 4

Back

2a + 2b + 4

Front

Simplify: -8 - 9(2x + 5)

Back

-18x - 53

Front

Identify the constant in the expression: 12e + 7

Back

7 is the constant.

Front

Simplify: 2x + 7(x - 5) - 4

Back

9x - 39

Front

Simplify: 8(5f - 7) + 3f

Back

43f - 56

Front

What is a constant in algebra?

Back

A constant is a fixed value that does not change. For example, in the expression 4x + 5, the number 5 is a constant.

Front

What does it mean to simplify an expression?

Back

To simplify an expression means to combine like terms and perform any operations to reduce it to its simplest form.