Simplify
Another way to test if two expressions are equivalent is to simplify the expressions and see if they are the same. There are three necessary steps to follow when simplifying an expression:
- Distributive Property
- Combine like terms
- Compare the expressions
Watch the YouTube movies on combining like terms and distributive property.
| Combining like terms... | Distributive Property... |
Consider the two expressions:
| 2(x + 3) + 8 + 3x | 4x + 7 + x + 7 |
| 1. Since there is
parentheses, do distributive property first which leaves the
following expression: 2x + 6 + 8 + 3x |
1. There is no parentheses so there is no distributive property. |
2. Combine like terms. The two alike terms are the 6 and 8 and the 2x and 3x. When combined the expression is as follows: 5x + 14 |
2. Combine like terms. The 7 and 7 can be
combined and the 4x and x can be combined. When they are
added, the expression is follows: 5x + 14 |
3. Compare the two expressions, they are the same so they are equivalent! |
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