1.06 Combining Like Terms;
The Distributive Property
from Basic Algebra: One Step at a Time © 2002
P. 31-38
Dr. Robert J. Rapalje
Seminole Community College--Hunt Club Center
In the last section, the concept of variables was introduced. Variables usually represent either known or unknown numbers. If the values of the variables are given as they were in the last section, then you can substitute those values in place of the variables and obtain a numerical answer. When the values of the variables are not known, the expressions may sometimes be simplified by a process called combining like terms. Before beginning this, however, a few preliminary remarks and definitions may be helpful.
1. TERMS are those quantities which are added (or subtracted) together. FACTORS are quantities that are multiplied. In the expression “x + 5," the x and the 5 are terms, since they are added. In the expression “5x,” the x and the 5 are factors, since they are multiplied. In the expression “5x + 3," the 5x and the 3 are terms, but the 5 and the x could be considered to be factors of the 5x term.
2. LIKE TERMS, or similar terms, are terms which have the same letters (variables) raised to the same power. Like terms and only like terms may be combined. For example, the expression 3x + 4x contains x terms. In the same way that 3 apples plus 4 apples would be 7 apples, the x terms can be combined: 3x + 4x = 7x. As another example, what about the expression 3x2 + 4x2 ? When you add apples to apples, you get apples. When you add x’s to x’s, you get x’s. So, it should be no surprise to learn that when you add x2’s to x2’s, you get x2’s. Therefore, 3x2 + 4x2 = 7x2.
3. UNLIKE TERMS are those terms which do not have the same letters and powers. Unlike terms cannot be combined.
Examples: a) 3x + 4y; b) 3x2 + 4x; c) 3x 2 + 4y2
These examples cannot be simplified, since in each example there are no like terms.
4. A term may contain more than one variable: 7xy + 3xy = _________ (Answer: 10xy)
5. A term may have no variable. We call this a number term. Number terms can be combined only with other number terms. 4x + 3 + 7y + 6 = __________
(Answer: 4x + 7y + 9)
6. It makes no difference in what order the terms are given. “4x + 7y + 9" could also be written as “9 + 4x + 7y” or “7y + 9 + 4x” or any other order. Usually we put the terms in alphabetical order. When powers are used, such as x2 + 3x + 5, again, order does not matter, but usually the highest powers of the variable are placed first and the number term given last. This is called descending powers of the variable.
7. A variable alone, such as x, really means 1x or 1 x. So, 3y + y means the same as 3y + 1y, which is 4y. Likewise, 4y - 3y would be 1y, but it is simpler to write 4y - 3y = y.
8. Simplifying the expression 4y - 4y, the result is “no y” or “0 y.” However, since zero times any number is zero, the answer is simply “0.”
Notice that: 4x + 3y - 4x simplifies to 3y The 0x is not necessary!
8x - 5x - 3x simplifies to 0 The 0x (which is 0) is necessary!
9. Exactly what is meant by 3x? Answer: 3x means 3 times x, or three x’s added together (x + x + x). In this case, the number 3 is called the coefficient of x.
10. What is meant by 3x2, and is it the same as (3x)2? Because there are no parentheses in the expression 3x2, according to the order of operations agreement, the x is squared, then the result is multiplied by 3. Therefore, 3x2 means 3 x x. However, because of the parentheses in (3x)2, the quantity to be squared (that is, multiplied times itself!) is 3x. Therefore, (3x)2 means (3x) (3x) or 3 x 3 x. When multiplying (or adding!) numbers, it can be done in any order. It is convenient to multiply the 3's together, then the x’s.
So, (3x)2 means (3x) • (3x)
3x • 3x
3 • 3 • x • x
9x2
Additional example: 5x2 • 6x equals 30 x3,
whereas: (5x)2 • 6x means (5x) (5x) • 6x or 5• 5 • 6 • x • x • x or 150 x3.
EXAMPLES: Simplify by combining all like terms. Remember, answers may be in any order.
1. 2x + 4x + 3y = _______ ANS: 6x + 3y
2. 7x + 4y + 3x = _______ ANS: 10x + 4y
3. 2x + 4 + 3y + x + 10y = __________ ANS: 3x + 13y + 4
4. 7x2 + 3y2 + 3x + 2x2 + y2 = ______________ ANS: 9x2 + 4y2 + 3x
5. 12x - 8y + 3y - 8x + x - 7y + 7y2 - 8
= _______________________________ ANS: 5x + 7y2 - 12y - 8
6. 13x - 4y2 - 9x + y2 + 4x + 3y2 - 7x
= _______________________________ ANS: x
7. 12x2 - 8y - 9xy + y2 + 8x - 3xy2 - 8
= _______________________________ ANS: Same as the problem!
Cannot be simplified!
EXERCISES: Simplify by combining all like terms.
1. 5x - 2x = _______ 2. 5d - 3d = _______
3. 8x + x = _______ 4. 3b + 3g = _______
5. h + h = _______ 6. 9x + x = _______
7. 9c - 4c = _______ 8. 9x - 8x = _______
9. x + 3y + 4 = _______ 10. 5w + 6w - 3w = _______
11. 4x - 3y + 12x - 2y = _________________
12. 8k + 7v + 3k - 2v = __________________
13. 2a + 3c - 8a - 4c = _________________
14. 12x - 6y + 4z - 3z +11y + x = __________________
15. xyz + 3xy + 2xyz + xy = _________________
16. 2LH + 2WH + 2LW - 6WH + 6LH = __________________
17. 7x2 + 3x2 = ______________ 18. 7y2 + 3y2 = _____________
19. 7x2 + 3y2 = ______________ 20. 7y2 + 3y = _____________
21. 7x2 - 3x2 = ______________ 22. -7y2 - 3y2 = _____________
23. 3x2 + 5x2y2 + 9y2 = __________________
24. 14x2 + 6x - 8y2 - 6xy + 3y2 + 12xy = __________________
The Distributive Property
Consider the following examples
EXAMPLE 8. Find the value of 5(4 + 6) and 5·4 + 5·6
Solution: 5 (10) 20 + 30
50 50
EXAMPLE 9. Find the value of 10(8 + 7) and 10·8 + 10·7
Solution: 10 (15) 80 + 70
150 150
EXAMPLE 10. Find the value of 10(8 - 7) and 10·8 - 10·7
Solution: 10 (1) 80 - 70
10 10
These are examples of the distributive property, formally called the distributive property for multiplication over addition. The distributive property is much more than a “neat trick” that works with numbers. It is one of the most important and frequently used properties in all of math. You really need to know and be able to use this one, both now and for future reference. This property is formally stated as follows:
The Distributive Property a (b + c) = a b + a c
also a b + a c = a (b + c)
EXAMPLE 11. 6(x + 5) According to the order of operations agreement, you must perform the addition within the parentheses before you multiply. However, these are unlike terms, so they cannot be combined. Therefore, in order to eliminate the parentheses, you can use the distributive property as follows:
6(x + 5) = 6·x + 6·5
= 6x + 30
The distributive property also works when subtracting and when using longer expressions.
EXAMPLE 12. 6(x - 5) = 6x - 30
EXAMPLE 13. 6(x + 3y - 7) = 6x + 18y - 42
In the next examples, remember that x·x = x2
EXAMPLE 14. x (x - y + 4) = x2 - xy + 4x
EXAMPLE 15. 7 (3x + 5y - 6) = 21x + 35y - 42
EXAMPLE 16. -7x (3x + 5y - 6) = -21x2 - 35xy + 42x
EXERCISES: Use the distributive property to remove the parentheses.
25. 5 (x + 3) = __________ 26. 5 (x + 5) = __________
27. 6 (x - 4) = __________ 28. 8 (y - 9) = ___________
29. 7 (2x + 5) = __________ 30. 5 (4x + 7) = __________
31. 6 (9x - 8) = __________ 32. 9 (7y - 9) = __________
33. -5 (x - 5) = __________ 34. -6 (x + 5) = __________
35. -1 (3x + 7) = __________ 36. -1 (3y - 4) = __________
37. - (-8x - 7) = __________ 38. - (-8x + 5) = __________
39. 5x (x - 3) = _________________ 40. 8y (y + 9) = __________________
41. 8x (5x + 3y) = _______________ 42. 5x (7x - 5y) = ________________
43. 5x (2y-3x+7) = ______________ 44. 4y (7x-9y-6) = ________________
45. -6y (2y+3x+7) = _____________ 46. -3x (7x-5y+1) = _______________
47. -7x (5y-x+1) = _______________ 48. -4y (-7x+9y-1) = ______________
The following exercises demonstrate the simplification of problems by using the distributive property followed by combining like terms. In the process of doing these exercises, you will be learning to show the steps in a neat, well-organized manner. This will be extremely important in the next section on equation solving.
Math Study Skill
A very important skill necessary for success in higher math is the ability to organize the problems neatly (and to be able to read your own handwriting!)
EXAMPLE 17: 4(x - 3) + 6(4x + 5)
= 4x - 12 + 24x + 30 Distributive Property
= 28x + 18 Combine like terms
EXAMPLE 18: 6(x - 3) - 4(4x + 5)
= 6x - 18 - 16x – 20 Distributive Property
= -10x - 38 Combine like terms
EXERCISES: Remove parentheses and combine like terms.
49. 3(2x + 5) + 6(x + 2)
= __________________________ Distributive Property
= __________________________ Combine like terms
50. 3(2x + 5) - 6(x + 2)
= __________________________ Distributive Property
= __________________________ Combine like terms
51. 3(2x - 5) + 6(x + 2) 52. 3(6x - 7) + 6(5x - 8)
= __________________________ = ______________________________
= __________________________ = ______________________________
53. 7(3x + 9) - 6(2x + 5) 54. 5(8x - 4) - 8(5x + 3)
= __________________________ = ______________________________
= __________________________ = ______________________________
55. 3x(5x - 9) + 8(3x - 2) 56. 2x(6x - 5) + 6(5 - 8x)
= __________________________ = ______________________________
= __________________________ = ______________________________
57. 4x(x + 3) - 8x(5x - 2) 58. 4x(x + 3) - 8x(5 - 2x)
= __________________________ = _____________________________
= __________________________ = ______________________________
59. 9(4x - 5y) - 6(2y - 3x) - 3(6x - 7y)
= ______________________________________________________
= ______________________________________________________
60. 6x(4x - 5) - 5y(2y + 3) - 4(3x + 8y)
= ______________________________________________________
= ______________________________________________________
ANSWERS 1.06
p. 33 - 38:
1. 3x; 2. 2d; 3. 9x; 4. 3b+3g; 5. 2h; 6. 10x; 7. 5c; 8. x; 9. x+3y+4; 10. 8w; 11. 16x-5y; 12. 11k+5v; 13. -6a-c; 14. 13x+5y+z; 15. 3xyz+4xy; 16. 8LH-4WH+2LW; 17. 10x2; 18. 10y2; 19. 7x2+3y2; 20. 7y2+3y; 21. 4x2; 22. -10y2; 23. 3x2 +5x2y2+9y2; 24. 14x2+6x-5y2+6xy; 25. 5x+15; 26. 5x+25; 27. 6x‑24; 28. 8y-72; 29. 14x+35; 30. 20x+35; 31. 54x-48; 32. 63y-81; 33. -5x+25; 34. -6x-30; 35. -3x-7; 36. -3y+4; 37. 8x+7; 38. 8x-5; 39. 5x2-15x; 40. 8y2+72y; 41. 40x2+24xy; 42. 35x2-25xy; 43. 10xy-15x2+35x; 44. 28xy-36y2-24y; 45. -12y2-18xy-42y; 46. -21x2+15xy-3x; 47. -35xy+7x2-7x; 48. 28xy-36y2+4y; 49. 12x+27; 50. 3; 51. 12x-3; 52. 48x-69; 53. 9x+33; 54. -44; 55. 15x2-3x-16; 56. 12x2-58x+30; 57. ‑36x2+28x; 58. 20x2-28x; 59. 36x-36y; 60. 24x2-42x-10y2-47y.
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Dr. Robert J. Rapalje HUNT CLUB
2006-08-26 18:04:01
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