Simplify Algebraic Expressions

6.AT.7 · Unit 6 · Lesson 7

Name   Period

Objectives / Objetivos

Content Objective: I can simplify algebraic expressions by combining like terms.

Language Objective: I can explain my steps using the words like terms, combine, simplify, and coefficient.

Key Idea / Idea clave

Only combine terms that have the same variable part; numbers without a variable combine with each other.

I Notice / Observo

  • Why can you add the microphones together but not mix microphones with stands?
  • What makes microphones and stands 'different types' of items?

I Wonder / Me pregunto

  • What if some rooms returned equipment — would you subtract?

Vocabulary / Vocabulario

Term / TérminoDefinition / Definición
Like Terms
Términos semejantes		Terms with the same letter raised to the same power, like 2x and 5x.
Términos con la misma letra elevada a la misma potencia, como 2x y 5x.
Combine
Combinar		To add or subtract terms with the same letter into one.
Sumar o restar términos con la misma letra en uno solo.
Simplify
Simplificar		To write an expression in its shortest form.
Escribir una expresión en su forma más corta.
Coefficient
Coeficiente		The number in front of a letter, like the 3 in 3x.
El número frente a una letra, como el 3 en 3x.
Term
Término		A single number, variable, or product of them, separated by + or − signs.
Un solo número, variable o producto de ellos, separado por signos + o −.
Distributive property
Propiedad distributiva		Multiplying a number by everything inside the parentheses: a(b + c) = ab + ac.
Multiplicar un número por todo lo que está dentro del paréntesis: a(b + c) = ab + ac.

Practice Preview / Vista previa de práctica

  1. Simplify 7x + 3x.
    1. 10x
    2. 10x²
    3. 21x
    4. 73x
  2. Simplify each expression by combining like terms.
  3. Match each expression to its simplified form.
  4. Find the Simplification Error
    1. Step 1: Expression — 5x + 3 + 2y + 4x
    2. Step 2: Combine — 5x + 2y + 4x + 3
    3. Step 3: Simplify — 11xy + 3

    Which step has the mistake? Explain it and write the correct work.

Reflection / Reflexión

One thing I learned today / Una cosa que aprendí hoy: