Directions

Watch Khan Academy’s video How to Simplify an Expression by Combining Like

Terms and the Distributive Property. Visit Mathhelp.com for further explanation,
additional notes, and practice. Feel free to watch the videos again if needed. In
algebra, we can only add terms with the same variable. In today’s task, we will
practice writing and simplifying expressions by combining similar or like terms and
by using the distributive property.

This work will be done individually. Click on Today’s TASK to open the Word doc.
There will be 4 numbers to complete in this homework.
Show your work by typing in your step-by-step solutions in the
1st column. Describe the steps that you did in the 2nd column.
Refer to the SAMPLE document in the Graphic Organizer tab to see a completed
task. A SCORING GUIDE is posted in the same webpage.

Make sure to click on the GRAY ARROW on the top LEFT side of the SmartArt Box
(see figure below; in red circle). The textbox will appear to the side of the colored
boxes. Type your answer after each bullet point.

When you are done, save your work as: YourNameTASK

(ex. JohnBrownTASK). Submit your work in Canvas.
Name ________________________________ Period ________________
Teacher ________________________________ Date _________________

Task 1: Add 5 to X, subtract the result from 1, then double what you get.

Solution Describe the Steps

Task 2: Add 5 to X, double what you get, then subtract 1 from the result.

Solution Describe the Steps

page 1/2
Task 3: Subtract 3 from X, add 2 to the result, then triple what you get.

Solution Describe the Steps

Task 4: Subtract 3 from X, triple what you get, then add 2 to the result.

Solution Describe the Steps

Page 2/2
 Completed Sample Task

Add 8 to X, subtract the result from 1, then double what you get.

Solution Describe the Steps

X+8 First add 8 to X.

Enclose the result we got with a parenthesis,

1 - (X + 8) then subtract from 1.

2 (1 - (X + 8)) Multiply the entire expression by 2.

2 (1 - X - 8) Distribute the -1 to the quantity (x-8).

2 ( -X - 7) Subtract 8 from 1.

-2x - 14 Distribute the 2 to each term.

Name ______________________ Date ________________

MATH RUBRIC

Exemplary 4 Accomplished 3 Developing 2 Beginning 1

Accuracy of 4/4 of items are 3/4 of items are 2/4 of items are At least 1/4 is
Final Answer correct correct correct correct

____ X 1

Using Order of Student shows Student shows Student shows Student shows
Operations to complete substantial some minimal
Simplify understanding understanding understanding of understanding of
Expressions and correctly and applies the the order of the order of
applies the order order of operations to operations.
_____ X 1 of operations to operations to simplify There is little
simplify simplify expressions, but progress made
expressions. expressions with with a in simplifying
only a few minor substantial expressions.
errors. number of
errors.
Describes Completely Describes mostly Describes few Describes
Appropriate describes appropriate appropriate minimal number
Steps or appropriate procedures. procedures. of the steps
Procedures steps. taken to simplify
expressions.
_____ X 2

Manipulating Correctly Shows Shows some Shows minimal

Expressions demonstrates the substantial understanding of understanding of
Using use of understanding of how to use the how to use the
Properties of distributive how to use the distributive distributive
Operations property and distributive property and property and
combining like property and how to combine how to combine
_____X 1 terms. how to combine like terms. like terms.
like terms.
Translating Correctly Correctly Correctly Shows minimal
Phrases into translates all translates most translates a few ability to
Mathematical phrases into phrases into phrases into translate phrases
Expressions mathematical mathematical mathematical into
expressions. expressions. expressions. mathematical
_____X 1 expressions.