Algebraic Expressions
Algebraic Expressions
• Variable
• Coefficient
• Constant
The variable is a symbol or letter that represents a
number.
- 4x + 3y - 8z + 9
The coefficient is the number that multiplies the variable.
More plainly, it is the number in front of a variable.
- 4x + 3y - 8z + 9
The constant is any term that does not have a
variable.
- 8 + 5y + 3x
An algebraic expression may be classified as a
monomial. A monomial only has one term. It is an
expression consisting of a number and a variable or
the product of numbers and variables that have whole
number exponents. A monomial cannot have a
variable in the denominator.
Comprehension Check
To evaluate a variable expression, you first replace each variable with the numbers to which they
are equal. Then you use the order of operations to simplify.
(Multiplication and Division are done in the order in which they appear. Which ever
operation appears first, is done first. The same applies for addition and subtraction when
both operations are found within a problem.)
EVALUATING EXPRESSIONS EXAMPLES
Example 1 Example 2 Example 3
Evaluate 4y – 15 for y = -9 Evaluate 3ab + c2 for a = 2, b =- Evaluate 6(g + h) for g=8 and h =
10, and c = 5. 7.
• 4y - 15
• 3ab + c2 • 6(8 + 7)
• 4(-9) – 15
• 3(2)(-10) + 52 • 6 (15) = 90
• -36 – 15 = - 51
• -60 + 25 =-45
LET’S PRACTICE!
• Evaluate each expression for x = -2, y = 3 and z =-10
xyz 8y + z2 z/5 + 2 4y – x
Expanding an algebraic expression involves using the distributive property. When the distributive
property is used, you multiply the quantity in front(or sometimes in the back) of the parentheses by
each term in the parentheses. Remember to use integer rules for multiplication (if multiplying
same signs – answer is positive, if multiplying different signs – answer is negative).
Examples
4(2x – 3) = 8x - 12 -5(4x – 9)= -20x +45
• 2(-8x + 10) =
• -(4x – 3y + 7z) =
• -8(-2x – 3 ) =
• 1/3(6x – 45) =
SIMPLIFYING
ALGEBRAIC
EXPRESSIONS
Distributive Property & Combining Like Terms
Simplifying expressions involves combining like terms. Like
Terms are monomials that have variables raised to the same powers.
Ex 1: - 6x + 5y – 3x + y – 8 Ex 2: -2x – 8y + 5x – 4y
= -6x – 3x + 5y + y – 8 = - 2x + 5x - 8y – 4y
= - 9x + 6y – 8 = 3x - 12y
= 5a – 2b + 4b + c =
4x2 – 4x2 + 7x2 – 6x + 3x + 1 – 5
= 5a + 3b + c = 7x2 - 3x - 4
LET’S PRACTICE!- SIMPLIFY EACH EXPRESSION
• -5x + 4x – 7 – x – 2 =
• 3m – 8m – 5d – 2d – 4m =
• - 8 – b – 5d – 2d – 4m =
• 3y – 2y + 9 – 5y – 4 =
• - 23g – 12 + 8d – 9g + 3d =