Combining Like Terms and Simplifying Expressions

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, while 3x and 3y 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, 4x + 2x = (4 + 2)x = 6x.

Front

What is the first step in simplifying an expression?

Back

The first step in simplifying an expression is to identify and group like terms together.

Front

Simplify: 4x^2 - 3x + 11 - 2x

Back

4x^2 - 5x + 11

Front

Combine like terms: 3x + 2x + 3y - 7y

Back

5x - 4y

Front

What does it mean to distribute in algebra?

Back

Distributing means multiplying a term by each term inside a set of parentheses. For example, in 2(x + 3), you would calculate 2*x + 2*3.

Front

Fill in the blank: 2(x + 7) = 2x + __

Back

14

Front

Distribute: 9h(2g + 3)

Back

18hg + 27h

Front

Simplify: 3(2c - 5)

Back

6c - 15

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.