Expressions and Equations

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 is a coefficient?

Back

A coefficient is a numerical factor in a term of an expression. For example, in 3x, 3 is the coefficient.

Front

What does it mean to factor an expression?

Back

Factoring an expression means to break it down into simpler components (factors) that, when multiplied together, give the original expression.

Front

What is the distributive property?

Back

The distributive property states that a(b + c) = ab + ac, meaning you can distribute a factor across a sum.

Front

How do you simplify an expression?

Back

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

Front

What is a variable in an expression?

Back

A variable is a symbol (often a letter) that represents an unknown value in an expression or equation.

Front

What is the difference between an expression and an equation?

Back

An expression does not have an equality sign and represents a value, while an equation states that two expressions are equal.

Front

What is the process to solve for a variable in an equation?

Back

To solve for a variable, isolate the variable on one side of the equation using inverse operations.

Front

What does it mean to completely factor an expression?

Back

To completely factor an expression means to break it down into its prime factors or irreducible components.

Front

What is a term in an expression?

Back

A term is a single mathematical expression that can be a number, a variable, or a combination of both, separated by + or - signs.