Name: ______Date: ______
Lesson 3-2: Simplifying Algebraic Expressions
Term: each part of an algebraic expression separated by an ______sign.
Like Terms: terms that contain the same ______
Coefficient: the ______part of a term that contains a variable
Constant: a term without a ______
Example 1:Example 2:
Terms: 4x, 5, and 2xTerms: -3y, -2, and 6y Like terms: 4x and 2x Like terms: -3y and 6y
Coefficients: 4 and 2Coefficients: -3 and 6
Constant: 5Constant: -2
Exercises:
Identify the terms, like terms, coefficients, and constants in each of the following expressions.
1) 2)
Terms: ______Terms: ______
Like terms: ______Like terms: ______
Coefficients: ______Coefficients: ______
Constant(s): ______Constant(s): ______
3) 4)
Terms: ______Terms: ______
Like terms: ______Like terms: ______
Coefficients: ______Coefficients: ______
Constant(s): ______Constant(s): ______
Simplify each expression.
Steps: 1) Add the opposite.
2) Distribute, if needed.
3) Re-order the expression so that like terms are together.
4) Combine like terms.
5) 6) 7)
8) 9) 10)
11) 12) 13)
14) 15) 16)
17) 18)
Error Analysis:
19) Erin, Susan, and Stefanie are using the distributive property to simplify algebraic expressions. Who
got the answer correct? Explain why the other two people are not correct.
Erin’s WorkSusan’s WorkStefanie’s Work
20) Suppose your brother has 15 more baseball cards in his collection than you have. Write an
expression in simplest form that represents the total number of cards in both collections.
______+ ______
your cards your brother’s cards
21) Matt and Lola both collect stamps. Lola has 25 more stamps in her collection than Matt has. Write
an expression in simplest form that represents the total number of stamps in both collections.
______+ ______
Matt’s stamps Lola’s stamps
22) Jackson earned d dollars delivering newspapers. His friend earned three times as much. You earned
4 dollars less than Jackson’s friend earned. Write an expression in simplest form that represents the
total amount earned by all three people.
______+ ______+ ______
Jackson’s earnings Jackson’s friend’s earnings Your earnings
23) Consecutive integers are integers that are one unit away from one another. For example, -5 and -6
are consecutive integers, as are 3 and 4. If x represents the first of three consecutive integers, write
an expression for the second and for the third of the three consecutive integers in terms of x.
The ______of a shape can be found by adding the measures of its sides.
Write an expression in simplest form for the perimeter of each of the figures below.
24)
25)Method 1:
Method 2:
26)
27) The perimeter of the triangle below is 7x + 3y. What is the measure of the third side of the triangle?