Algebraic Expressions

Front

What is an algebraic expression?

Back

An algebraic expression is a mathematical phrase that can include numbers, variables, and operation symbols. For example, 3x + 2 is an algebraic expression.

Front

What does the term 'term' mean in algebra?

Back

A term is a single mathematical expression that can be a number, a variable, or a combination of both multiplied together. For example, in the expression 5x + 3, '5x' and '3' are both terms.

Front

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

Back

Count the number of separate parts in the expression that are added or subtracted. For example, in 5x + 7 - 2f, there are 3 terms.

Front

What does 'less than' indicate in an algebraic expression?

Back

'Less than' indicates subtraction. For example, '4 less than x' can be written as x - 4.

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 parenthesis.

Front

How do you simplify the expression 3(4 - x)?

Back

Using the distributive property, 3(4 - x) simplifies to 12 - 3x.

Front

What does the expression x / 5 represent in a word problem?

Back

It represents dividing a quantity x into 5 equal parts.

Front

What is a coefficient in an algebraic expression?

Back

A coefficient is a number that is multiplied by a variable. For example, in 4x, 4 is the coefficient.

Front

What does the expression 9x represent in a word problem?

Back

It represents the total amount earned if each of the x individuals earned 9 dollars.

Front

What is a variable in algebra?

Back

A variable is a symbol, usually a letter, that represents an unknown number. For example, x and y are common variables.