Distributive Property and Simplifying Expressions

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 two or more terms inside a set of parentheses.

Front

Simplify: 4(3 + 5)

Back

4(3 + 5) = 4*3 + 4*5 = 12 + 20 = 32.

Front

What does it mean to simplify an expression?

Back

To simplify an expression means to combine like terms and perform any operations to make the expression as simple as possible.

Front

Simplify: 2x + 3x

Back

2x + 3x = 5x.

Front

What are like terms?

Back

Like terms are terms that have the same variable raised to the same power. For example, 2x and 3x are like terms.

Front

Simplify: 5a + 2b - 3a + 4b

Back

5a - 3a + 2b + 4b = 2a + 6b.

Front

What is the first step in using the Distributive Property?

Back

The first step is to multiply the term outside the parentheses by each term inside the parentheses.

Front

Simplify: 3(2x + 4)

Back

3(2x + 4) = 3*2x + 3*4 = 6x + 12.

Front

What is a coefficient in an algebraic expression?

Back

A coefficient is a numerical factor in a term of an algebraic expression. For example, in 5x, 5 is the coefficient.

Front

Simplify: 6y - 2y + 4

Back

6y - 2y + 4 = 4y + 4.