Algebraic Expressions Vocabulary

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What is an algebraic expression?

Back

A mathematical phrase that contains numbers, variables, and operations, but does not have an equal sign.

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What is a variable in an algebraic expression?

Back

A symbol, often a letter, that represents an unknown value in an expression.

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What is a constant in an algebraic expression?

Back

A fixed value that does not change, represented by a number.

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What does the term 'coefficient' refer to in an algebraic expression?

Back

A numerical factor that multiplies a variable.

Front

What is the power of a variable in an algebraic expression?

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The exponent that indicates how many times the variable is multiplied by itself.

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What does it mean to simplify an algebraic expression?

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To combine like terms and reduce the expression to its simplest form.

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What is the difference between an expression and an equation?

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

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What is the purpose of parentheses in algebraic expressions?

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To indicate the order of operations and to group terms together.

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How do you evaluate an algebraic expression?

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By substituting the values of the variables into the expression and performing the operations.

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What is the distributive property in algebra?

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