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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Define 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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What does it mean to simplify an algebraic expression?

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To simplify an algebraic expression means to combine like terms and perform operations to reduce it to its simplest form.

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What is a coefficient?

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A coefficient is a numerical factor in a term of an algebraic expression. For example, in 3x, 3 is the coefficient.

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What is a constant in algebra?

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A constant is a fixed value that does not change. In the expression 2x + 5, the number 5 is a constant.

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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.

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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.

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What is the distributive property?

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The distributive property states that a(b + c) = ab + ac, meaning you can distribute a factor across a sum.

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What does it mean to factor an expression?

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Factoring an expression means to break it down into simpler components, or factors, that when multiplied together give the original expression.

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What is a polynomial?

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A polynomial is an algebraic expression that consists of terms with non-negative integer exponents. For example, 2x^2 + 3x + 5 is a polynomial.