Question

Which of the following expressions could be simplified further?
2x + 3m + 7n + 4z – 5p
6x – 7m + 9x
4x + 3m – 5z + 8a
2x + 3m – 5y + 4z

Answer 1

Simplify the following expression.
a + 5c − b − c + a − b

A) 2a – 2b + 4c
B) a – b + 4c
C) 2a – b + 4c
D) 2a – b + 6c

Answer 2

Simplify the following expression.
2x − 2y − 5z + 2x + 2y + 3z

A) 4x – 4y − 2z
B) 4x – 4y − 8z
C) 4x – 4y + 8z
D) 4x – 2z

Answer 3

You can simplify by "combining like terms"
a "like term" means the same letter but possibly different number in front (coefficient)
like terms: 1x, 3x, -5x
3xy, -3yx (same letters, order does not matter)

not like terms: 1y, 2x (different letters)
1y, 3y^2 (different powers or exponents)

if you find two or more like terms, add up their coefficients:
1x -2x +3x becomes (1-2+3)x or simply 2x