Distributing and Combining Like Terms Flashcard

Front

What does it mean to combine like terms in an algebraic expression?

Back

Combining like terms involves adding or subtracting terms that have the same variable raised to the same power. This simplifies the expression.

Front

How do you identify like terms in an expression?

Back

Like terms are terms that have the same variable(s) and exponent(s). For example, 3x and 5x are like terms, while 3x and 4y are not.

Front

What is the first step in simplifying the expression 5a + 2b - 3a + 4?

Back

The first step is to identify and combine the like terms, which are 5a and -3a.

Front

What is the simplified form of the expression 5(2 - 7n)?

Back

The simplified form is 10 - 35n, obtained by distributing the 5 to both terms inside the parentheses.

Front

What does distributing a number across a parenthesis involve?

Back

Distributing involves multiplying the number by each term inside the parentheses. For example, a(b + c) = ab + ac.

Front

How do you simplify the expression -2(3x + 4y + 1)?

Back

You distribute -2 to each term inside the parentheses, resulting in -6x - 8y - 2.

Front

What is the result of combining the like terms in the expression 2x - 4 + 3x - 5?

Back

The result is 5x - 9, as you combine 2x and 3x, and -4 and -5.

Front

What is the process of simplifying the expression 5x + 3y + 5 + 4x + 3y + y + 8?

Back

Combine like terms: 5x + 4x = 9x, 3y + 3y + y = 7y, and 5 + 8 = 13, resulting in 9x + 7y + 13.

Front

What is a coefficient in an algebraic expression?

Back

A coefficient is a numerical factor that multiplies a variable. For example, in 4x, 4 is the coefficient.

Front

What is a constant term in an algebraic expression?

Back

A constant term is a term that does not contain any variables. For example, in the expression 3x + 5, the number 5 is a constant.