Simplify Algebraic Expressions
Name Period
Objectives / Objetivos
Content Objective: I can simplify algebraic expressions by combining like terms.
Language Objective: I can explain my steps using the words like terms, combine, simplify, and coefficient.
Key Idea / Idea clave
Combining Like Terms. 1. Like Terms: Terms that share the exact same variable part and exponent (e.g. 4x and 2x). 2. Add or subtract the coefficients of like terms; keep the variable unchanged. 3. Constants (numbers without variables) combine together separately
I Notice / Observo
- Why can you add the microphones together but not mix microphones with stands?
- What makes microphones and stands 'different types' of items?
I Wonder / Me pregunto
- What if some rooms returned equipment — would you subtract?
Vocabulary / Vocabulario
| Term / Término | Definition / Definición |
|---|---|
| Simplify Algebraic Expressions Simplificar expresiones algebraicas | Rewrite an expression in a shorter equivalent form by combining like terms and using properties. Reescribir una expresión en una forma equivalente más corta combinando términos semejantes y usando propiedades. |
| Like Terms Términos semejantes | Terms with the same variable raised to the same exponent, like 2x and 5x. Términos con la misma variable elevada al mismo exponente, como 2x y 5x. |
| Combine Combinar | To add or subtract terms with the same variable and exponent into one. Sumar o restar términos con la misma variable y el mismo exponente en uno solo. |
| Simplify Simplificar | To rewrite an expression in a shorter form that is still equal to the original. Reescribir una expresión en una forma más corta que sigue siendo igual a la original. |
| Coefficient Coeficiente | The number in front of a letter, like the 3 in 3x. El número frente a una letra, como el 3 en 3x. |
| Term Término | A single number, variable, or product of them, separated by + or − signs. Un solo número, variable o producto de ellos, separado por signos + o −. |
Practice Preview / Vista previa de práctica
Read each task. Show your work in the spaces provided and explain how you know.
1. Simplify 7x + 3x.
- A 10x
- B 10x²
- C 21x
- D 73x
Answer:
2. Simplify each expression by combining like terms.
Complete each empty cell. Show your reasoning below.
| Expression | Like Terms Combined | Simplified |
|---|---|---|
| 3a + 5a + 2 | 3a + 5a = 8a | |
| 6x + 4 + 2x + 7 | ||
| 10m − 3m + 5 | ||
| 4y + 3 + y + 9 |
3. Match each expression to its simplified form.
Write the letter of the matching item in the blank.
| 1. | 8x + 3x + 1 | A. | 7y | |
| 2. | 5a − 2a + 7 | B. | 6p + 1 | |
| 3. | 4n + n + 6 | C. | 7m + 10 | |
| 4. | 12y − 5y | D. | 5n + 6 | |
| 5. | 3m + 8 + 4m + 2 | E. | 11x + 1 | |
| 6. | 9p + 1 − 3p | F. | 3a + 7 |
4. Find the Simplification Error
Which step has the mistake, and what should it be?
Reflection / Reflexión
One thing I learned today / Una cosa que aprendí hoy: