Simplifying Expressions with Distributive Property and Like Terms

The video tutorial explains how to simplify algebraic expressions using the distributive property and combining like terms. It emphasizes the importance of following the order of operations, starting with parentheses, then multiplication, and finally addition and subtraction. The tutorial provides examples to illustrate these concepts, highlighting the need to treat subtraction signs carefully and ensuring correct handling of positive and negative numbers. By applying these methods, expressions with variables can be simplified effectively.

What is the first step in simplifying expressions according to the order of operations?

• Apply the distributive property

• Simplify inside the parentheses

• Combine like terms

• Perform all multiplications

What does the distributive property allow us to do?

• Add different variables together

• Multiply a number outside the parentheses by each term inside

• Subtract terms inside parentheses

• Divide terms by the number outside the parentheses

How do you combine like terms?

• Multiply their coefficients

• None of the above

• Divide one term by another

• Add or subtract their coefficients

What is the result of combining 7a and 3a?

• 3a

• 10a

• 4a

• 21a

In the expression 8b - 6(B + 5), what is the first step to simplify it?

• Apply the distributive property

• Combine like terms

• Simplify inside the parentheses

• Subtract 6 from 8b

How does a negative sign affect the distributive property?

• It cancels out the terms inside the parentheses

• It makes the product of terms negative if multiplied by a positive

• It reverses the operation from multiplication to division

• It is ignored during multiplication

What is the simplified form of the expression 8b - 6(B + 5)?

• 2b - 30

• 14b - 30

• 14b + 30

• 2b + 30

Why is it important to keep the subtraction sign with the number in expressions?

• None of the above

• To convert all terms to positive

• To simplify the expression directly

• To ensure correct application of the distributive property

What does combining like terms involve?

• Finding the average of coefficients

• Multiplying coefficients together

• None of the above

• Adding or subtracting the coefficients of the terms with the same variable

What is the correct sequence of steps in simplifying expressions with variables?

• Distributive property, then combining like terms

• Combining like terms, then distributive property

• Multiplication, then addition

• None of the above