Understanding Distributive Property and Combining Like Terms

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 two or more terms inside a set of parentheses.

Front

Simplify: 2(x + 4)

Back

2x + 8

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 4y are not.

Front

Combine like terms: 5x + 3x

Back

8x

Front

What is the first step in simplifying an expression using the Distributive Property?

Back

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

Front

Simplify: 3(2y + 5)

Back

6y + 15

Front

Combine like terms: 4x^2 + 2x - 3x^2 + 5x

Back

-x^2 + 7x

Front

What does it mean to simplify an expression?

Back

To simplify an expression means to combine like terms and perform any operations to reduce it to its simplest form.

Front

Distribute and simplify: 5(2 + 3x)

Back

10 + 15x

Front

Combine like terms: 7y - 2y + 4y

Back

9y