Simplifying Expressions

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 combine like terms and reduce it to its simplest form.

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

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 inside a parenthesis.

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, 3x + 5x = 8x.

Front

What is the coefficient in an expression?

Back

The coefficient is the numerical factor in a term. For example, in 4x, 4 is the coefficient.

Front

What is a variable in mathematics?

Back

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

Front

What does it mean for two expressions to be equivalent?

Back

Two expressions are equivalent if they have the same value for all values of the variables.

Front

How do you evaluate an expression?

Back

To evaluate an expression, substitute the values of the variables into the expression and perform the operations.

Front

What is the result of simplifying 6n + 12?

Back

The expression can be simplified to 6(n + 2).