Simplifying Expressions Review

Front

What is an expression in mathematics?

Back

An expression is a combination of numbers, variables, and operators (such as +, -, *, /) that represents a value.

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 performing operations.

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.

Front

How do you combine like terms?

Back

You combine like terms by adding or subtracting their coefficients. For example, 3x + 5x = 8x.

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 in a parenthesis.

Front

Simplify the expression: 3(x + 4) - 2(x - 1).

Back

3(x + 4) - 2(x - 1) = 3x + 12 - 2x + 2 = x + 14.

Front

What is a coefficient in an expression?

Back

A coefficient is a numerical factor that multiplies a variable. For example, in 4x, 4 is the coefficient.

Front

What is a constant in an expression?

Back

A constant is a fixed value that does not change. For example, in the expression 2x + 5, 5 is a constant.

Front

What does it mean to factor an expression?

Back

Factoring an expression means to express it as a product of its factors. For example, x^2 - 9 can be factored as (x - 3)(x + 3).

Front

What is the first step in simplifying the expression 2x + 3x - 5?

Back

The first step is to combine like terms: 2x + 3x = 5x, so the expression simplifies to 5x - 5.