Combining Like Terms and Distributive Property

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 the distributive property?

Back

The distributive property states that a(b + c) = ab + ac, meaning you can distribute a multiplier across terms inside parentheses.

Front

Simplify the expression: 3(9 + 2d) + 4d.

Back

27 + 10d.

Front

How do you simplify the expression -10(s + 5) - 4s?

Back

You distribute -10 to get -10s - 50, then combine like terms to get -14s - 50.

Front

What is a coefficient in an algebraic expression?

Back

A coefficient is the numerical factor that multiplies a variable, such as the 3 in 3x.

Front

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

Back

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

Front

How do you combine the terms 11y + 3(2y - 4)?

Back

Distribute 3 to get 11y + 6y - 12, then combine like terms to get 17y - 12.

Front

What is the result of combining the terms -r and -10r?

Back

The result is -11r.

Front

What is the importance of understanding coefficients in algebra?

Back

Understanding coefficients is crucial for simplifying expressions and solving equations, as they indicate how many units of a variable are present.

Front

What is an example of an expression that requires the distributive property to simplify?

Back

An example is 4(2x + 3), which simplifies to 8x + 12.