Simplifying Expressions by Combining Like Terms

Front

What are like terms?

Back

Like terms are terms that have the same variable raised to the same power. For example, 3a and 5a are like terms, while 3a and 4b are not.

Front

How do you combine like terms?

Back

To combine like terms, you add or subtract the coefficients of the terms that are alike. For example, in 3a + 5a, you add the coefficients (3 + 5) to get 8a.

Front

Simplify by combining like terms: 5a + 2b - 3a + 4

Back

2a + 2b + 4

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 parenthesis.

Front

Simplify: (x - 6)4

Back

4x - 24

Front

What does it mean to simplify an expression?

Back

To simplify an expression means to reduce it to its simplest form by combining like terms and applying the distributive property.

Front

Simplify: 2(c - 8)

Back

2c - 16

Front

What is a coefficient?

Back

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

Front

Simplify by combining like terms: 5a + 2 - 3a + 4

Back

5a + 6

Front

What is a constant term?

Back

A constant term is a term that does not contain any variables. For example, in the expression 3x + 5, the number 5 is a constant term.