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Simplifying Algebraic Expressions
Parts of an algebraic expression are called terms. Like terms are terms that have the same variables raised
to the same exponents. Constant terms are also like terms.
An algebraic expression is in simplest form when it has no like terms and no parentheses. To combine
like terms that have variables, use the Distributive Property to add or subtract the coefficients.
Example 1 Simplify 8y + 7y.
8y + 7y = (8 + 7)y Distributive Property
= 15y Add coefficients.
Example 2 Simplify 2(x + 5) − 3(x − 2).
2(x + 5) − 3(x − 2) = 2(x) + 2(5) − 3(x) − 3(−2) Distributive Property
= 2x + 10 − 3x + 6 Multiply.
= 2x − 3x + 10 + 6 Group like terms.
= −x + 16 Combine like terms.
Example 3 Simplify xy + 3y − 2x + 5y − 3xy.
xy + 3y − 2x + 5y − 3xy = xy − 3xy + 3y + 5y − 2x Group like terms.
= −2xy + 8y − 2x Combine like terms.
Practice Check your answers at [Link].
Simplify the expression.
1. 7x + 15x 2. 8y − 14y 3. 7d + 9 − 5d
22x −6y 2d + 9
4. 3w + 2(2 − 3w) + 2 5. (x + 3) + (3x − 7) 6. (5k + 6) + (4k − 8)
−3w + 6 4x − 4 9k − 2
7. (−7n + 6) + (5n + 15) 8. (9z + 12) − (6z + 8) 9. (8b + 1) − (−10b − 5)
−2n + 21 3z + 4 18b + 6
10. s(8 − 2t) + 3t(4 − 2s) + 5t 11. qr + 2q2 − 3qr − r2 − 6q2 12. g3(h − 4g) − h(3 − 2g3)
−8st + 8s + 17t −4q2 − 2qr − r 2 −4g4 + 3g3h − 3h
13. EARNINGS The original price of a model car is d dollars. You use a coupon and buy the kit for
(d − 10) dollars. You assemble the model car and sell it for (2d − 20) dollars. Write an expression that
represents your earnings. Interpret the expression.
(d − 10); You earn (d − 10) dollars. You also paid (d − 10) dollars, so you doubled
your money by selling the model car for twice as much as you paid for the kit.
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