Lesson 2

Reminder

Expressions are algebraic statements that explain how a variable (an unknown value) can be

manipulated. There is no “=” in an expression.

Expressions are made of terms.

Each variable (𝑥 or 𝑦) represents a different number. Expressions can therefore be simplified by

collecting like terms.

NB – there is a difference between 𝑦 and 𝑦 2 as 𝑦 stands alone while 𝑦 2 means 𝑦 × 𝑦.

Examples of simplifying expressions:

1. 4 + 2𝑥 + 3𝑥 − 𝑥 + 6

= 2𝑥 + 3𝑥 − 𝑥 + 4 + 6 (Write like terms next to one another to make it easier)

= 4𝑥 + 10

2. 2𝑎𝑏 + 5𝑎𝑏 − 9𝑎𝑏 (Remember: 2𝑎𝑏 = 2 × 𝑎 × 𝑏)

= −2𝑎𝑏

3. 3𝑥 + 2𝑦 + 𝑥 2 − 𝑥 − 3𝑦

= 3𝑥 − 𝑥 + 𝑥 2 + 2𝑦 − 3𝑦

= 2𝑥 + 𝑥 2 − 𝑦
 Lesson 2 Practice

1. Simplify the following expressions:

a) 6𝑥 + 4𝑥 + 3𝑥

b) 8𝑦 − 2𝑦 + 5𝑦

c) 7𝑎 − 𝑎 − 9𝑎

d) 2𝑏 + 4𝑐 + 6𝑏 − 3𝑐

e) 8𝑑 − 4𝑒 − 3𝑑 + 𝑒

f) 2𝑎𝑏 + 4𝑎𝑏 − 3𝑎𝑏

g) 3𝑐𝑑 + 4𝑑𝑒 + 7𝑐𝑑 − 2𝑑𝑒

h) 4 + 9𝑦 − 6𝑦 − 11

i) 4𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 2 + 8𝑥 − 2𝑥 + 𝑥 2

j) 𝑎2 + 2𝑎 + 2 − 𝑎2 + 5𝑎

2. Below is an algebraic pyramid where you determine the expression in the block by adding

the expressions in the two blocks below it. Two examples have been done for you.

5𝑎 − 𝑏 + 6𝑏 − 2𝑎 3𝑎 + 4𝑏 + 5𝑎 − 𝑏

= 5𝑎 − 2𝑎 − 𝑏 + 6𝑏 = 3𝑎 + 5𝑎 + 4𝑏 − 𝑏

= 3𝑎 + 5𝑏 = 8𝑎 + 3𝑏

𝟖𝒂 + 𝟑𝒃 𝟑𝒂 + 𝟓𝒃

2𝑎 + 3𝑏 3𝑎 + 4𝑏 5𝑎 − 𝑏 6𝑏 − 2𝑎