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1.8 Simplifying Algebraic Expressions
1.8 Simplifying Algebraic Expressions
8 Simplifying Algebraic Expressions
Learning Objectives:
1. Evaluate algebraic expressions.
2. Identify like terms and unlike terms.
3. Use the Distributive Property.
4. Simplify algebraic expressions by combining like terms.
1. Evaluate algebraic expressions
Definitions:
1. A _________________________is any letter that we use to represents any number from a set of
numbers.
2. A ____________________is either a fixed number or a letter or symbol that represents a fixed number.
3. An __________________________________ is any combination of variables, constants, grouping symbols
and mathematical operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and
exponents.
4. To ____________________________________________, substitute a numerical value for each variable into
the expression and simplify the result.
Example 1. Evaluate each expression.
1. 2 p2 + 5p − 1 for p = −1
2. (x 2
+ y)
2
for x = 3 and y = −2
2. Identify like terms and unlike terms
Definitions:
1. A _______________ is a constant or the product of a constant and one or more variable raised to a
power.
2. The ___________________ of a term is the numerical factor of the term.
1
3. ____________________________ are terms that have the same variable factor(s) with the same
exponent(s).
4x
Example 2. Identify the terms and then name the coefficient of each term: 3x 2 −
5
Example 3. Determine if the terms are like or unlike.
1. 3 and 7 2. 4a 2 and − 7a 2 3. − 3r 2 s and − 3rs 2
3. Use the Distributive Property
Distributive Property
1. a (b + c ) = ab + ac 2. − a (b + c ) = − ab − ac
where a, b and c are any real numbers.
Example 4. Use the distributive property to remove the parentheses.
1. − (2 x − 3 y ) 2. (4 x 2
+ 2 x )5
4. Simplify algebraic expressions by combining like terms
Example 5. Simplify each expression by combining like terms.
1. 4 x − 3( y − 6 ) + 3 y + 4 x
2. 3 + 2(4.9 − 5.2 x )
2
3 3
3. y− y
7 4
4.
1
(− 4 x + 6) − 2 (9 x − 18)
2 3
3