Simplifying Expressions - Combining Like Terms and Distribution

Front

What are like terms in an 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, add or subtract the coefficients of the terms that have the same variable. For example, 3x + 5x = 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. For example, -4(-4d - 5) becomes 16d + 20.

Front

What is the result of simplifying the expression 17m + 13x - 20m?

Back

The result is -3m + 13x after combining like terms.

Front

How do you simplify the expression 10 + 9n - 3n?

Back

Combine like terms to get 10 + 6n.

Front

What is the first step in simplifying an expression with parentheses?

Back

The first step is to apply the distributive property to eliminate the parentheses.

Front

What does it mean to simplify an expression?

Back

To simplify an expression means to combine like terms and apply the distributive property to make the expression as concise as possible.

Front

What is the simplified form of 8h + 7(2 + 4h)?

Back

The simplified form is 36h + 14 after applying the distributive property and combining like terms.

Front

What is a coefficient in an algebraic expression?

Back

A coefficient is a numerical factor that multiplies a variable. For example, in 5x, 5 is the coefficient.