Mr. Brothers 2012 When simplifying an equation, combine like terms. 3x + x = ? Since there is two numbers and each has an x, you can combine the 3x and the 1x to get 4x. 3x + x = 4x Ex. 1) 8y-2y= ? Ex. 2) 3b-8b= ? Ex. 3) 7t-3b= ? Simplify the Following Ex. 1) 8y-2y=6y Ex. 2) 3b-8b=-5b Ex. 3) 7t-3b=7t-3b Since there are no like terms, this equation can not be simplified any further. Answers 3(2x-5)-4(x+9) First, distribute the 3 and 4. 6x-15-4x-36 Combine like terms. 2x-51 Therefore, 3(2x-5)-4(x+9)=2x-51 Simplifying Review Game (3x-3)(2x+5) There are a few steps to solve this problem. Remember FOIL: First Outer Inner Last Ex. 1) (2x+9)(3x-1) Ex. 2) (x^2+6)(x-4) Ex. 1) (2x+9)(3x-1) 6x^2-2x+27x-9 6x^2+25x-9 Ex. 2) (x^2+6)(x-4) X^3-4x^2+6x-24 X=2 Y=1 Z=7 Plug in the numbers Combine like terms and evaluate Simplify until you cannot go any further. 5x^2 3y+z 5(2)^2 3(1)+7 5(4) = = 2 Example when x=2, y=3, and z=4 5x-y^2 2z 5(2)-3^ When you have exponents there are a few things that you can do to simplify them. x^2*x^3 When multiply terms of the same base, add the exponents. x^2*x^3=x^5 x^6 When dividing, subtract the exponent in the denominator from the numerator. x^6 x^3 x^-2 If the end result is a negative exponent, do not worry. To get rid of a negative exponent, just take the reciprocal. 1 x^2 x^3yz^4 xy^2z^3 x^2y^-1z x^2z y^1 x^2z y