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Simplifying Algebraic Expressions
- A term is a number, a variable, or the product of a number and one or more variables. The terms of an algebraic expression are separated by plus and minus signs.
- You can combine terms when they are like terms. Like terms are those that have exactly the same variable factors.
- There is a coefficient of 1 in front of a variable that does not have any numeric coefficient. For example you can write 1x as x or −1y as −y.
3x + x − 12x =
- 4x − 12x =
− 8x
− 6x − 3x =
− 9x
Larissa buys 3 drinks for a party. Michael buys 5 drinks for the party. Nick buys 7 drinks for the party. Write and simplify an algebraic expression to represent the total cost of the drinks.
- Let d = cost of one drink.
- 3d + 5d + 7d =
15d
In one trip to the store, you buy 2 oranges. On the second trip, you buy 7 more oranges. Write and simplify an algebraic expression to represent the total cost of oranges.
- Let c = cost of an orange.
- 2c + 7c =
9c
3x + 4(x − 6) =
- 3x + 4x − 24 =
7x − 24
8(2y − 3) + 8y =
- 16y − 24 + 8y =
24y − 24
6x − 10 + 2x + 13 =
8x + 3
1.2(4 + x) − 3.4x =
- 4.8 + 1.2x − 3.4x =
4.8 − 2.2x
Eric fed his dog 5 dog treats, his sister fed the dog 2 dog treats, and his brother fed the dog 9 dog treats. Write and simplify an algebraic expression to represent the total amount of calories the dog consumed.
- Let c = calories in one dog treat.
- 5c + 2c + 9c =
16c
[1/4](16x + 12) − 5 + 2x =
- 4x + 3 − 5 + 2x =
6x − 2
*These practice questions are only helpful when you work on them offline on a piece of paper and then use the solution steps function to check your answer.
Answer
Simplifying Algebraic Expressions
Lecture Slides are screen-captured images of important points in the lecture. Students can download and print out these lecture slide images to do practice problems as well as take notes while watching the lecture.
- Intro
- What You'll Learn and Why
- Vocabulary
- Combining Like Terms
- Writing and Simplifying Expressions
- Writing and Simplifying Expressions
- Distributing and Simplifying
- Extra Example 1: Simplify the Expression
- Extra Example 2: Distributing and Simplifying
- Extra Example 3: Writing and Simplifying Expressions
- Extra Example 4: Distributing and Simplifying






























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