Coaching Centre
Simplifying algebraic expressions
Substitution, collecting like terms, and multiplying and dividing algebraic terms in Year 8 algebra.
Like terms
Like terms have identical pronumeral parts, including powers. $4x^2y$ and $-xy^2$ are not like terms; $4x^2y$ and $-yx^2$ are.
Simplify $3a^2 - 5a + 2a^2 + 7a - 1$.
Multiplying and dividing
Simplify (a) $-4m^2 \times 3mn$ and (b) $\dfrac{18x^3y}{-6xy}$.
Simplify $3a^2 - 5a + 2a^2 + 7a - 1$.
Collect $a^2$ and $a$ terms.
Simplify $-4m^2 \times 3mn$.
$m^2 \times m = m^3$.
Simplify $\dfrac{18x^3y}{-6xy}$.
$18 \div -6 = -3$.
Simplify $5xy - 3yx$.
$xy = yx$.
Evaluate $2a^2 - 3b$ when $a = -2$ and $b = 5$.
$2(4) - 15 = -7$.
Simplify $2a \times 5a^2$.
$10a^3$.
Simplify $\dfrac{12ab}{4b}$.
Cancel $4b$.
Simplify $3x + 2y - 2x + 2y$.
$x + 4y$.
New numbers every time. Keep going until you get five in a row.