Algebraic Expressions

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What is an algebraic expression?

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An algebraic expression is a mathematical phrase that can include numbers, variables, and operation symbols. For example, 3x + 5 is an algebraic expression.

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What does it mean to combine like terms?

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Combining like terms means to simplify an expression by adding or subtracting terms that have the same variable raised to the same power. For example, in 2x + 3x, you combine to get 5x.

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What is the distributive property?

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The distributive property states that a(b + c) = ab + ac. It allows you to multiply a single term by each term inside a parenthesis.

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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 x + 2, x is the variable.

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What is a coefficient?

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A coefficient is a numerical factor in a term of an algebraic expression. For example, in 4x, 4 is the coefficient.

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What does it mean to evaluate an expression?

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

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What is a constant in an algebraic expression?

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A constant is a fixed value that does not change. For example, in the expression 5x + 3, the number 3 is a constant.

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What is the difference between an equation and an expression?

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An expression is a combination of numbers, variables, and operations without an equality sign, while an equation states that two expressions are equal, using an equality sign.

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How do you simplify the expression 11g - 9g + 8g?

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You combine like terms to get 11g - 9g + 8g = (11 - 9 + 8)g = 10g.

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What is the result of evaluating 8y + 12 - 2z for y = 4 and z = 2?

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Substituting the values gives 8(4) + 12 - 2(2) = 32 + 12 - 4 = 40.