Combining Like Terms & Distributive Property

Front

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

Back

Combining like terms means to simplify an expression by adding or subtracting terms that have the same variable raised to the same power.

Front

What is the distributive property?

Back

The distributive property states that a(b + c) = ab + ac, meaning you multiply the term outside the parentheses by each term inside the parentheses.

Front

Simplify: 2x + 3x

Back

5x

Front

Simplify: 5a - 2a + 4

Back

3a + 4

Front

What is a coefficient in an algebraic expression?

Back

A coefficient is a numerical factor that multiplies a variable, such as in 3x, where 3 is the coefficient.

Front

Simplify: 7y - 2y + 5

Back

5y + 5

Front

What is the first step in applying the distributive property?

Back

The first step is to multiply the term outside the parentheses by each term inside the parentheses.

Front

Simplify: 4(2x + 3)

Back

8x + 12

Front

What does it mean to simplify an expression?

Back

To simplify an expression means to reduce it to its simplest form by combining like terms and applying the distributive property.

Front

Simplify: 3(x + 4) - 2(x - 1)

Back

x + 14