Chapter 3 Algebraic Expressions

Front

What is an algebraic expression?

Back

An algebraic expression is a mathematical phrase that includes numbers, variables, and operations (like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division). For example, 3x + 5 is an algebraic expression.

Front

What does it mean to simplify an algebraic expression?

Back

To simplify an algebraic expression means to combine like terms and perform any operations to make the expression as simple as possible.

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What is a coefficient in an algebraic expression?

Back

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

Front

What are like terms?

Back

Like terms are terms that have the same variable raised to the same power. For example, 3x and 5x are like terms, but 3x and 4y are not.

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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.

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How do you combine like terms?

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To combine like terms, add or subtract the coefficients of the terms that have the same variable. For example, 3x + 5x = 8x.

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What is an equivalent expression?

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An equivalent expression is an expression that has the same value as another expression, even though it may look different. For example, 2(3x + 4) and 6x + 8 are equivalent.

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What is a variable in algebra?

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A variable is a symbol, usually a letter, that represents an unknown number. For example, in the expression 2x + 3, x is the variable.

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What does it mean to evaluate an expression?

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To evaluate an expression means to find its value by substituting numbers for the variables. For example, to evaluate 2x + 3 for x = 2, you would calculate 2(2) + 3 = 7.

Front

What is a term in an algebraic expression?

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