Identifying Parts of an Expression

Front

What is a constant in an expression?

Back

A constant is a fixed value that does not change. For example, in the expression 3x + 2y + 7, the constant is 7.

Front

Define a variable in mathematical expressions.

Back

A variable is a symbol, often a letter, that represents an unknown value in an expression or equation.

Front

What is a coefficient in an expression?

Back

A coefficient is a numerical factor that multiplies a variable. For example, in the expression 4m + n + 2, the coefficient of m is 4.

Front

What is an expression in mathematics?

Back

An expression is a combination of numbers, variables, and operators (such as +, -, *, /) that represents a value.

Front

How do you identify the number of terms in an expression?

Back

The number of terms in an expression is determined by counting the distinct parts separated by + or - signs. For example, in 3x + 2y + z, there are 3 terms.

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What does it mean for an expression to be simplified?

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Simplifying an expression means to reduce it to its simplest form by combining like terms and eliminating unnecessary parentheses.

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What is the difference between an expression and an equation?

Back

An expression does not have an equality sign and cannot be solved, while an equation has an equality sign and can be solved for a variable.

Front

What are like terms in an expression?

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Like terms are terms that have the same variable raised to the same power. For example, 3x and 5x are like terms.

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How do you combine like terms in an expression?

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To combine like terms, add or subtract their coefficients while keeping the variable part the same. For example, 3x + 5x = 8x.

Front

What is the role of parentheses in an expression?

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Parentheses indicate which operations should be performed first in an expression according to the order of operations.