Distributing and Combining Like Terms Flashcard

Front

What does it mean to simplify an expression in algebra?

Back

To simplify an expression means to combine like terms and perform any operations to reduce the expression to its simplest form.

Front

What are like terms in algebra?

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 distribute a term across a parenthesis?

Back

To distribute a term across a parenthesis, you multiply the term by each term inside the parenthesis. For example, 5(2 - 7n) becomes 5*2 - 5*7n.

Front

What is the result of distributing 3 across (2x - 4)?

Back

The result is 3*2x - 3*4, which simplifies to 6x - 12.

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, 2x + 3x = 5x.

Front

What is the simplified form of the expression 2x - 4 + 3x - 5?

Back

The simplified form is 5x - 9.

Front

What is the first step in simplifying the expression -2x + 11 + 6x?

Back

The first step is to combine like terms: -2x and 6x.

Front

What is the simplified result of -2x + 11 + 6x?

Back

The simplified result is 4x + 11.

Front

What is the importance of parentheses in algebraic expressions?

Back

Parentheses indicate which operations should be performed first in an expression, following the order of operations.

Front

What is the order of operations in algebra?

Back

The order of operations is Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication and Division (from left to right), Addition and Subtraction (from left to right), often abbreviated as PEMDAS.