Simplifying Expressions Warn Up

Front

What is the distributive property in algebra?

Back

The distributive property states that a(b + c) = ab + ac. It allows you to multiply a single term by two or more terms inside a set of parentheses.

Front

Simplify the expression: 3(x + 4)

Back

3x + 12

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.

Front

Simplify: 4(2y - 3) + 5y

Back

8y - 12 + 5y = 13y - 12

Front

What is a like term?

Back

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

Front

Simplify: 7a - 2a + 3

Back

5a + 3

Front

What is the difference between an expression and an equation?

Back

An expression is a combination of numbers, variables, and operations without an equality sign, while an equation states that two expressions are equal.

Front

Simplify: -2(3x + 4)

Back

-6x - 8

Front

What is a coefficient in an algebraic expression?

Back

A coefficient is a numerical factor that multiplies a variable. For example, in 5x, 5 is the coefficient.

Front

Simplify: 10 - 2(3 + 4)

Back

10 - 14 = -4