Distribute and Combine 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.

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 the expression: -6x + 4(-x - 3)

Back

-10x - 12

Front

Simplify the expression: -7x + 5(1 - 8x)

Back

5 - 47x

Front

Simplify the expression: 6 + 2(7x - 3)

Back

14x

Front

Simplify the expression: 7 + 3(1 - 2x)

Back

10 - 6x

Front

Simplify the expression: 8x - 6(3 - 2x)

Back

20x - 18

Front

What is the first step in simplifying an expression using the distributive property?

Back

The first step is to distribute the term outside the parentheses to each term inside the parentheses.

Front

How do you identify like terms in an expression?

Back

Look for terms that have the same variable(s) and the same exponent. For example, 2x^2 and 3x^2 are like terms.