Integrated Math 1 / Unit 1: Quantities and Expressions
1.5 Simplifying Expressions
Notes
A term is a number, a variable, or a product of both. Like terms have the same variables with the same exponents, so only their coefficients differ.
- Combine like terms by adding or subtracting coefficients: $3x + 5x = 8x$.
- Distribute first, then combine: $2(x + 4) + 3x = 5x + 8$.
- A minus sign in front of parentheses changes the sign of every term inside.
- Unlike terms such as $4x$ and $4x^2$ cannot be combined.
Practice
Simplify $3x + 5 - x + 2$.
Combine $3x - x = 2x$ and $5 + 2 = 7$.
Simplify $-2(3x - 4) + 5x$.
$-6x + 8 + 5x = -x + 8$. The $-2$ times $-4$ is $+8$.
Which pair are like terms?
Both have the variables $x$ and $y$ to the first power.
Ready for more? Take the Unit 1 test.