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Simplifying Expressions

One way to simplify expressions is to combine like terms.

Like Terms: terms that have exactly the same variables raised to the same exponents

Examples:

Non-examples:

To combine like terms, you add or subtract the coefficients of the terms (the numbers
in front of the variables). Leave the variable part unchanged.

Example: 9x + 7y - 13x + 4y - 5

Note the difference between:
x + x =
x ∙ x =

Sometimes you may need to simplify an expression that has parentheses in it. This
requires using the Distributive Property first and then combining like terms.

Ex: -5(t - 13) - 4 =
Ex: 3(x - 2) - (x - 4) =
Ex: -5(8j + 2) - (5j - 3) - 3j + 17 =

When simplifying, always distribute first to remove all parentheses, then combine
any like terms.
Ex: