SIMPLIFYING ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSIONS/POLYNOMIALS Like terms in an expression are those that have the same variables with the

same exponents. The coefficients may differ. Example: 3m - 4n + 3 + 3m2 + 9mn - 21 + 3n2 - 2n + 12m - 5m3 3m and 12m are like terms -4n and -2n are like terms 3 and -21 are like terms Collect/combine like terms indicates add/subtract like terms in the expression. This is also true for the directions given as "simplify" and "perform the indicated operations". Example: Simplify 3m - 4n + 3 - 5mn + 7n - 6 + 21m (3m + 21m) + (-4n + 7n) + (3 - 6) - 5mn (grouping like terms) 24m + 3n - 3 - 5mn (add/subtract)

When an expression has grouping symbols, you need to simplify them following the order of operations. Example: Simplify 4(3m - 4n + 3) - (3m2 + 3n2) - 2(5m - 13m2 + 8n2) 12m - 16n + 12 - 3m2 - 3n2 - 10m + 26m2 - 16n2 (There are no like terms inside the grouping symbols to combine. Therefore, the next step is to use the distribute property so that the grouping symbols are simplified.) (12m - 10m) + (-3m2+ 26m2) + (-3n2 - 16n2) - 16n + 12 (group like terms) 2m + 23m2 - 19n2 - 16n + 12 (add/subtract) NOTE: You do not need to write down the group like terms step. You can do that step along with the add/subtract mentally. EXAMPLES: 1) Simplify 4a - 5.7b + 3.3c - 12.4a + 2.2b - 5c (4a - 12.4a) + (-5.7b + 2.2b) + (3.3c - 5c) -8.4a - 3.5b - 1.7c group like terms add/subtract

NOTE: The final answer may be written in different order. However, since we have the commutative property of addition, the solutions are equivalent. For example, -8.4a - 3.5b - 1.7c is the same as -1.7c - 8.4a - 3.5b 2) Simplify 1/2x - 3(1/3 + 6x + 2y) + (1/2x + 6y - 1) 1/2x - 1 - 18x - 6y + 1/2x + 6y - 1 (1/2x - 18x + 1/2x) + (-6y + 6y) + (-1 - 1) -17x - 2 distribute group like terms add/subtract

3) Simplify

2[x - (3 - x)] 2[x - 3 + x] 2[2x - 3] 4x - 6

remove parenthesis by distributing combine like terms within parenthesis remove bracket by distributing

NOTE: There may be more than one way to reach the same solution as long as you are correctly following operations. For example: 2[x - (3 - x)] 2[x - 3 + x] remove parenthesis by distributing 2x - 6 + 2x remove bracket by distributing 4x - 6 add/subtract 4) Simplify 9(x - 5) - 3(8 + 4x) + 3[x - (4 + x)] 9(x - 5) - 3(8 + 4x) + 3[x + 8 - x] 9x - 45 -24 -12x + 3x + 24 - 3x -3x -45 5) Simplify
4[3(x2 + 5xy + 3y2) - (2x2 + 4y2)] - [12xy - 2(6x2 - xy - 3y2)] given expression 4[3x2 + 15xy + 9y2 - 2x2 - 4y2] - [12xy -12x2 + 2xy + 6y2] remove parenthesis by distributing 4[x2 + 15xy + 5y2] - [14xy - 12x2 + 6y2 ] combine like terms within brackets 2 2 2 2 12x + 60xy + 20y - 14xy + 12x - 6y remove brackets by distributing (12x2 + 12x2) + (60xy - 14xy) + (20y2 - 6y2) group like terms 24x2 + 46xy + 14y2 add/subtract

given expression distribute within brackets remove parenthesis by distributing add/subtract

6) Perform the indicated operations. 15 - 11{2- 5[3a + 4b + 2(4a - 3b + 6)]} 15 - 11{2 - 5[3a + 4b + 8a - 6b + 12]} 15 - 11{2 - 5[11a - 2b + 12]} 15 - 11{2 - 55a + 10b - 60} 15 - 11{-55a + 10b - 58} 15 + 605a - 110b + 638 653 + 605a - 11b 7) Simplify.
21 - {8 - 5x[6 - 4(y - 7) - 9(4 - y)] - 10x + 25xy + 13} 21 - {8 - 5x[6 - 4y + 28 - 36 + 9y] - 10x + 25xy + 13} 21 - {8 - 5x[-2 + 5y] - 10x + 25xy + 13} 21 - {8 + 10x - 25xy - 10x + 25xy + 13} 21 - {21} given expression remove parenthesis by distributing combine like terms within brackets remove brackets by distributing combine like terms within braces add/subtract

given expression remove parenthesis by distributing combine like terms within brackets remove brackets by distributing combine like terms within braces remove braces by distributing add/subtract