Simplifying Expressions/Combining Like Terms

Front

What is simplifying expressions?

Back

Simplifying expressions involves combining like terms and reducing expressions to their 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 a coefficient?

Back

A coefficient is a numerical factor in a term. For example, in 4m, 4 is the coefficient.

Front

How do you combine like terms?

Back

To combine like terms, add or subtract their coefficients while keeping the variable part the same.

Front

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

Back

2a + 2b + 4

Front

Simplify the expression: 2x + 1 + 7x

Back

9x + 1

Front

Simplify the expression: 3(2x + 1)

Back

6x + 3

Front

Simplify the expression: 3(1 - 2x) + 7

Back

10 - 6x

Front

What is the first step in simplifying an expression?

Back

The first step is to identify and group like terms.

Front

What does it mean to distribute in an expression?

Back

Distributing means multiplying each term inside the parentheses by the term outside. For example, 3(2x + 1) becomes 6x + 3.