Combining Like Terms and Distributive Property

Front

What are like terms in an algebraic expression?

Back

Like terms are terms that have the same variable raised to the same power. For example, 3x and 5x are like terms, while 3x and 4y are not.

Front

How do you combine like terms?

Back

To combine like terms, you add or subtract the coefficients of the terms that have the same variable. For example, in the expression 3x + 5x, you combine them to get 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 parentheses.

Front

How do you apply the distributive property to simplify an expression?

Back

To apply the distributive property, multiply the term outside the parentheses by each term inside the parentheses, then combine like terms if necessary.

Front

What is the first step in simplifying an expression with multiple terms?

Back

The first step is to identify and combine like terms to reduce the expression to its simplest form.

Front

How many terms are in the expression 3x + 5y - 17 - 2y + x?

Back

There are 5 terms in the expression: 3x, 5y, -17, -2y, and x.

Front

What is the result of simplifying -10x + 15 - 3x + 2?

Back

The result is -13x + 17.

Front

How do you simplify the expression 16w - 7 - 5w - 11 + 4(w - 5)?

Back

First, apply the distributive property: 4(w - 5) = 4w - 20. Then combine like terms: 16w - 5w + 4w - 7 - 11 - 20 = 15w - 38.

Front

What is the simplified form of 11y + 3(2y - 4)?

Back

The simplified form is 17y - 12.

Front

How do you simplify the expression 5p - 3q + 2 - 4p + 5 + 4q?

Back

Combine like terms: (5p - 4p) + (-3q + 4q) + (2 + 5) = p + q + 7.