Note: An algebraic expression is made of one or more terms. The terms in an algebraic expression are connected with either addition or subtraction.

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1 .4 Combining Like Terms Term A term is a single number or variable, or it can be a product of a number (called its coefficient) and one or more variables. Examples of terms:, x, a, xy, 4 a bc, 5, xyz coefficient xyz variable part Note: An algebraic expression is made of one or more terms. The terms in an algebraic expression are connected with either addition or subtraction. Example 1: Identify the terms in the algebraic expression, coefficient and variable part. x 5xy 9y 1. For each term, identify its Solution: x 5xy 9y 1 (4 terms) Term Coefficient Variable Part x x 5xy 5 xy 9y 9 y 1 1 none You Try It 1: How many terms are in the algebraic expression, x xy y? Example : Identify the terms in the algebraic expression, coefficient and variable part. a a b ab b. For each term, identify its Solution: a a b ab b (4 terms) Term Coefficient Variable Part a 1 a a b ab ab ab b 1 b You Try It : How many terms are in the algebraic expression, 11 a ab b? 017 Worrel 1

2 Like Terms Terms are like terms, if their variable parts match identically (all variables and corresponding exponents must match). Terms are unlike terms, if their variable parts do not match identically (the variables or corresponding exponents are different). Examples of like terms: x and 5 x, 9 and 5, ab and 7 ab, x y and 10x y Examples of unlike terms: x and y, 17 and x, ab and a b, x y and 10x y Example : Classify each of the following pairs as either like terms or unlike terms. a) x and 7x b) y and y c) t and 5u d) 4 a and a Solution: a) x and 7x The variable parts are both x, therefore these are like terms. b) y and y The variable parts are y and y. Even though the variables match, the exponents do not. Since these do not match identically, these are unlike terms. c) t and 5u The variable parts are t and u. Since these do not match, these are unlike terms. d) 4 a and a The variable parts are both a, therefore these are like terms. You Try It : Are xy and 11xy like or unlike terms? 017 Worrel

3 The Distributive Property Let a, b, and c be any whole numbers. Then, a b c ab ac and a b c ab a c Note: Using the commutative property, we can rewrite the above as, b c a ba ca b c a ba ca and Since the two sides of each equation are equal, we can switch them and get, ba ca b c a ba ca b c a (This is know as factoring) and We will use this to combine like terms. Example 4: Use the distributive property and the note above to combine like terms (if possible). a) 5x 9x b) 5ab 7ab c) 4y 7y d) xy 7xy Solution: a) b) c) d) 5x 9x 5 9 x 14 14x 5ab 7ab 5 7 ab ab 4y 7y, these are not like terms since the exponents do not match. Since they are not like terms we cannot combine them. Not Like Terms xy 7xy 7 xy 4 4xy You Try It 4: Simplify. 8z 11z 017 Worrel

4 Combining Like Terms The easier way of combining like terms is to combine the coefficients and carry the variable part. Remember that when combining like terms the variable part does not change. Example 5: a) 9y 8y 5 5 b) y 4y c) u u Solution: a) 9y 8y 17 y b) c) y 4y 1 y or y u u 1 u or u You Try It 5: x 4x Note: The direction, Simplify, means to write the expression in its most compact form (using the fewest symbols possible). When simplifying an expression, you must always combine like terms, if possible. Example 6: Simplify. x y 5x 8y Solution: x y 5x 8y x 11y Combine the x terms together and combine the y terms together. You Try It 6: Simplify. a 4b 7a 9b 017 Worrel 4

5 Simplify 1) If the expression contains parentheses, distribute first to get rid of the parentheses. ) Combine Like Terms, if possible. Example 7: Simplify. x x 4 Solution: x x 4 x x 4 Distribute first to get rid of parentheses. x x 4 (x terms together & # terms together) 5x 7 You Try It 7: Simplify. 9a 4 4a 8 Example 8: Simplify. 5 x 4 x Solution: 5 x 4 x 10 6x 4x 1 Distribute first to get rid of parentheses. 10 6x4x 1 (# terms together & x terms together) 10x You Try It 8: Simplify. a 4 5 a Example 9: Simplify. 8x y 9xy 87x y 8xy Solution: 8 x y 9xy 8 7x y 8xy 4x y 7xy 56x y 64xy 4x y 7xy 56x y 64xy x y 16 xy Note: Remember you cannot combine You Try It 9: Simplify. a ab ab a x y & 0 xy because the exponents do not match identically. 017 Worrel 5

6 Example 10: Find the perimeter, P, of the (a) rectangle and (b) square pictured below. Simplify your answers as much as possible. L s W W s s L s Solution: Remember, the perimeter of a figure is the sum of the lengths of all its sides. a) The perimeter of a rectangle is, Perimeter of a rectangle L W L W L W Hence we get, Perimeter of a rectangle L W b) The perimeter of a square is, Perimeter of a square s s s s 4s Hence we get, Perimeter of a square 4s You Try It 10: A regular hexagon has six equal sides, each with length x. Find its perimeter in terms of x. Perimeter Formulas Perimeter of a Rectangle L W (where L = length and W = width) Perimeter of a Square 4s (where s = the length of a side) 017 Worrel 6

7 Example 11: Find the perimeter of the rectangle with length (W 4) feet and width W feet. Solution: Using the new perimeter formula for a rectangle, we have Perimeter of the rectangle L W W Now replace L with W 4. So, P(8W 8) feet W 4 W 6W 8 W 8W 8 You Try It 11: Find the perimeter of the rectangle with length (W 7) feet and width W feet. Example 1: Find the perimeter of the rectangle with width ( L) meters and length L meters. Solution: Using the new perimeter formula for a rectangle, we have Perimeter of the rectangle L W L Now replace W with L. So, P 6 L meters L L L6 4L 6 L You Try It 1: Find the perimeter of the rectangle with width (4 L) meters and length L meters. 017 Worrel 7

8 Example 1: The length of a rectangle, L, is three feet longer than twice its width. Find the perimeter, P, of the rectangle in terms of its width, W. Solution: The length of a rectangle is three feet longer than twice its width. L W So, we get L W Using the new perimeter formula for a rectangle, we have Perimeter of the rectangle L W W Now replace L with W. So, P6 6W W W 6 4W W 6 6W You Try It 1: The length of a rectangle, L, is 5 meters longer than twice its width, W. Find the perimeter, P, of the rectangle in terms of its width, W. Example 14: The width of a rectangle, W, is two feet less than its length. Find the perimeter, P, of the rectangle in terms of its length, L. Solution: The width of a rectangle is two feet less than its length. W (backwards minus) So, we get W L Using the new perimeter formula for a rectangle, we have Perimeter of the rectangle L W L Now replace W with L. L So, P4L 4 L L LL 4 4L 4 You Try It 14: The width of a rectangle, W, is 5 feet less than twice its length, L. Find the perimeter, P, of the rectangle in terms of its length, L. 017 Worrel 8