Year 7: Simplification and expansion of algebraic expressions

Simplifying Algebraic Expressions

Simplifying means making an expression shorter and easier to understand. You do this by combining like terms.

Like terms have the same variable raised to the same power. For example, 3x and 5x are like terms.

To combine like terms, add or subtract their coefficients (the numbers in front of the variables).

    Example: 2x + 3x = 5x
    Example: 4y - 2y = 2y

Expanding means multiplying out the terms in an expression. We use the distributive property.

a(b + c) = ab + ac

    Example: 2(x + 3) = 2x + 6
    Example: 3(2y - 1) = 6y - 3

Remember to multiply every term inside the parentheses by the term outside.

Practice is key! Work through lots of examples to get comfortable with simplification and expansion.