1. 2
Understanding Variables and Solving Equations

2. R.1 Fractions
2.2 Simplifying Expressions
Objectives
Combine like terms using the distributive property.
Simplify expressions.
Use the distributive property to multiply.

3. Combine like terms using the distributive property.
The basic idea in simplifying expressions is to combine, or add, like terms.
Each addend in an expression is a term.

4. Combine like terms using the distributive property.
A variable term has a number part (coefficient) and a letter part (variable).

5. Combine like terms using the distributive property.

6. Combine like terms using the distributive property.
List the like terms in the expression. Identify the coefficients of the like terms.
Example
The like terms are –5x and x.
The coefficients of –5x is –5, and the coefficient of x is understood to be 1.

7. Combine like terms using the distributive property.
List the like terms in the expression. Identify the coefficients of the like terms.
Example
10ab (–10a) + 12b + (–6)
The like terms are 12 and –6.
The like terms are constants (there are no variable parts.)

8. Combine like terms using the distributive property.
The distributive property can be used “in reverse” to combine like terms.

9. Combine like terms using the distributive property.

10. Combine like terms using the distributive property.
Example

11. Simplify expressions.
Simplify by combining like terms.
Example

12. Simplify expressions.
Simplify 5(10y).
Example

13. Simplify expressions.
Simplify.
Example

14. Use the distributive property to multiply.
Simplify 6(y – 4).
Example

15. Use the distributive property to multiply.
Simplify –2(4a + 3).
Example

16. Use the distributive property to multiply.
Simplify 8 + 3(x – 2).
Example