Combine Like Terms
Before evaluating some algebraic expressions, you can simplify them
by combining like terms.
The parts of an algebraic expression that are separated by an
addition or subtraction sign are called terms. Terms that have
exactly the same variable parts are called like terms.
7 a 10 a 19 x^2 15 x 4 x^2
1
2
like terms like terms
Simplify by combining like terms. Then evaluate the expression
for the given value of the variable.
12 w 5 w30, when w1.5
(12w 5 w) 30 Associative Property
(125)w 30 Distributive Property
7 w 30 Simplify.
7 • 1.5 30 Replace wwith 1.5.
40.5
8 c^2 6 c 3 c^2 , when c 4
8 c^2 3 c^2 6 c Commutative Property
(83)c^2 6 c Distributive Property
11 c^2 6 c Simplify.
11 • 42 6 • 4 Replace cwith 4.
value of the expression 152 value of the expression
Simplify by combining like terms. Then evaluate the
expression for the given value of the variable.
- 20 n 6 n3, when n2.5 6. 6 x 7 x14, when x0.34
- 378 15 y 2 y, when y3.1 8. 7 m^2 3 m^2 2, when m 3
- 9 z^2 5 z 3 z^2 , when z 10 10. 13 b 6 b 19 14 c, when b 15
and c0.4
Write and evaluate an algebraic expression.
- Juan buys some T-shirts for $12.95 12.Lucy orders books from an online
each and pays a sales tax of $2.33. bookstore. She pays $12 per book and
If he buys 3 T-shirts, how much does $8.95 for shipping and handling. How
Juan pay in all? much does she pay in all for 13 books? - Stanley packs some paperback books in each of 5 boxes and
some hardcover books in each of 4 boxes. If he packs 15 paperback
books in each box and 11 hardcover books in each box, how many
books in all does he pack?
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