Variables and Patterms

What is a symbol (typically a letter) that holds the place for an unknown number?

• A constant

• A variable

• A co-efficient

• A term

Answer explanation

Variables are letters that hold the place for an unknown number.

What is an expression?

• A number sentence that DOES contain an equal sign.

• The number that remains the same.

• A number sentence that DOES NOT contain an equal sign.

• Terms that can be grouped together.

Answer explanation

An expression is a number sentence that DOES NOT contain an equal sign.

** It may or may not have variables.

What is a term?

• All the parts and pieces of an expression. (Ex: variables, constants, the product of a co-efficient and variable)

• A number that remains the same.

• The number before a variable.

• The letter that holds the place for an unknown value.

Answer explanation

Terms are all the parts and pieces of an expression.

**Think back to the first sort we did at the beginning of the school year. All of the cards represented different terms.

What is a constant?

• A number right before the variable.

• A letter that holds the place for an unknown value.

• The parts and pieces of an expression.

• A number all by itself in an expression. Its value will remain the same.

Answer explanation

Constants will "constantly" remain as the value shown in the expression. They are the numbers all by themselves in the expression.

What is a co-efficient?

• The number by itself in the expression.

• The number right before the variable.

• You will multiply the co-efficient by the variable.

• The letter that holds the place for an unknown value.

Answer explanation

Co-efficients are the numbers right before the variables. Until the value of the variable is given to you, you will not be able to determine the value of the tem.

What are like terms?

• The parts and pieces in an expression.

• A number by itself.

• The number before a variable.

• Terms that can be grouped together.

Answer explanation

Like terms have the "same last name" and be grouped together.

**Remember the family reunion sort we did at the beginning of the school year.

How do you simplify an expression?

• You group together like terms to make an equivalent expression.

• You only add the constants together.

• You combine all the numbers and then attach the variables afterwards.

• You will divide the numerator and denominator by a common factor.

Answer explanation

When you simplify an expression, you will look for like terms and then combine them together.

What does it mean to evaluate an expression?

• To circle and box the terms that have the same last name.

• To combine like terms.

• To sort the terms into different catergories.

• To substitute and solve.

Answer explanation

Remember the phrase, "plug it in" ... when you substitute, you will "plug in" the value of th variable and then solve.

What is an independent variable?

• A variable that determines the worth of the dependent variable.

• A variable determined by the dependent variable.

• A letter that holds the place for an unknown value.

• A number sentence with an equal sign.

What is a dependent variable?

• A number sentence without an equal sign.

• The variable that determines the independent variable's value.

• The number before the co-efficient.

• The variable that is determined by the independent variable.