Algebra 1 : Variables

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Algebra 1

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Example Questions

Example Question #14 : How To Add Polynomials

Simplify the following expression:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

In order to simplify this expression, we need to add together like terms. What this means, is that we can only add together different parts of the expression that have the same kind of variable. For example,  can only be added to other values that also have . We cannot combine  to values that do not have the same exact variable - so, we cannot combine it with , or , and so on. Everything about the variables of two terms needs to be exactly the same if we are going to be able to combine them - the only thing that can be different are the coefficients (the numbers in front of the variables).

 

So, let's look at the expression above, and see if there are any like terms that we can combine.

Starting with  - in order to be combined with this term, any other term must have  as their variable. There is one other term in this expression tha thas  as their variable - . If two terms hae the exact same variables, the only thing that we need to do in order to combine them is to add their coefficients together:

 

Now, let's look at the next term in the expression, . There are no other terms that have  as their variable, so this term will stay the same.

 

Now, let's look at . There is one other term that has  as their vairable: . Let's add these two terms together:

 

Finally, let's look at our last term which happens to have no variable: . There are no other terms in the expression that have no variable, so this term will stay the same.

Now, let's add together all of our simplified terms, as well as the terms that could not be simplified:

This is our simplified answer.

 

 

Example Question #161 : Polynomials

Simplify the following:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To solve this problem, first distribute anything through parentheses that needs to be distributed, then combine all terms with like variables (i.e. same variable, same exponent):

Example Question #162 : Polynomials

Simplify the following:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To solve this problem, first distribute anything through parentheses that needs to be distributed, then combine all terms with like variables (i.e. same variable, same exponent):

 

Example Question #163 : Polynomials

Simplify the following:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To solve this problem, first distribute anything through parentheses that needs to be distributed, then combine all like terms (i.e. same variable, same exponent):

 

Example Question #164 : Polynomials

Simplify the following:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To solve this problem, first distribute anything through parentheses that needs to be distributed, then combine all terms with like variables (i.e. same variable, same exponent):

 

Example Question #165 : Polynomials

Simplify the following:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To solve this problem, first distribute anything through parentheses that needs to be distributed, then combine all terms with like variables (i.e. same variable, same exponent):

Example Question #166 : Polynomials

Simplify the following:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To solve this problem, first distribute anything through parentheses that needs to be distributed, then combine all terms with like variables (i.e. same variable, same exponent):

 

Example Question #167 : Polynomials

Simplify the following:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To solve this problem, first distribute anything through parentheses that needs to be distributed, then combine all terms with like variables (i.e. same variable, same exponent):

 

Example Question #168 : Polynomials

Simplify the following:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To solve this problem, first distribute anything through parentheses that needs to be distributed, then combine all terms with like variables (i.e. same variable, same exponent):

 

 

Example Question #169 : Polynomials

Simplify the following expression:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Simplify the following expression:

Let's begin by putting each polynomial in standard form (decreasing exponent order)

Good, see how the highest exponents are on the left, and the lowest are on the right? That's standard form.

Next, let's remove the parentheses and put terms with the same exponent next to eachother.

Okay, finally, combine like terms by adding the coefficients (the numbers out front).

Notice that the squared terms cancel out, and the fifth term stays the same.

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