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. It does not have an equality sign.

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What does the term 'coefficient' refer to in an algebraic expression?

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

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What is a variable in algebra?

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

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How do you evaluate an algebraic expression?

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To evaluate an algebraic expression, substitute the values of the variables into the expression and perform the operations according to the order of operations.

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What is the order of operations in mathematics?

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The order of operations is a set of rules that dictates the sequence in which calculations are performed: Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication and Division (from left to right), Addition and Subtraction (from left to right), often abbreviated as PEMDAS.

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What does it mean to simplify an algebraic expression?

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Simplifying an algebraic expression means to reduce it to its simplest form by combining like terms and performing any possible operations.

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What is a 'like term' in algebra?

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Like terms are terms that have the same variable raised to the same power. For example, 3x and 5x are like terms.

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What is the difference between an expression and an equation?

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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, indicated by an equality sign.

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How do you translate a verbal expression into an algebraic expression?

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To translate a verbal expression into an algebraic expression, identify keywords that indicate mathematical operations (e.g., 'sum' for addition, 'difference' for subtraction) and use variables to represent unknown quantities.

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What does 'twice a number' mean in algebra?

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'Twice a number' means to multiply that number by 2. For example, if the number is represented by x, then 'twice a number' is expressed as 2x.