Simplifying Algebraic Expressions
Welcome to the Froge.ai guide on simplifying algebraic expressions! Here, we will explore various techniques to break down and simplify expressions to their simplest form.
Understanding Terms and Coefficients
An algebraic expression consists of terms. Consider the expression: 3x + 5 - 2y.
- Terms: 3x, 5, -2y
- Coefficients: 3 and -2 (for x and y, respectively)
- Constant: 5
Combining Like Terms
Like terms are terms that have the same variable raised to the same power. Combine them using addition or subtraction.
Example: Simplify 2x + 3x - y + 4y
Solution: (2x + 3x) + (-y + 4y) = 5x + 3y
Distribution
Apply the distributive property to simplify expressions. The distributive property is: a(b + c) = ab + ac.
Example: Simplify 2(x + 3) - 4(x - 1)
Solution: 2x + 6 - 4x + 4 = -2x + 10
Practice Problems
Try these problems on your own!
- Simplify: 6a + 2a - 5 - a
- Simplify: 3(b + 4) + 2(3b - 5)