1.

3 Notes Name: ________________________________________________

Evaluate Expressions Algebra 1 Date: _______________ Hour: ________

Objectives
• Evaluate algebraic expressions.

Vocabulary:
a letter or symbol used to represent a value that can change.
Variable: __________________________________________________________________________________

a mathematical sentence that may contain only constants and/or operations.

Expression: _______________________________________________________________________________

a mathematical sentence that may contain constants, variables, and/or operations.

Algebraic expression: _______________________________________________________________________

Example 1 Evaluate algebraic expressions ✓ Evaluate the expression

Evaluate the expression when 𝑐 = 4. Evaluate the expression when 𝑦 = 2.
10
a) 4𝑐 b) 𝑐 − 12 1. 2. 𝑦+4
𝑦

Example 2 Evaluate an expression

You are ordering a skateboard and a helmet from an on-line store. The total weight of the two items can be
represented by 𝑠 + ℎ, where s is the weight of the skateboard and h is the weight of the helmet. Find the total
weight if the helmet weighs 1.3 kilograms and the skateboard weighs 5.4 kilograms.

Expressions Using Exponents base exponent

A power can be written in a form using two numbers, a base and an exponent. The exponent
43 = 4 ∙ 4 ∙ 4
represents the number of times the base is used as a factor, so 64 can be written as ______. power 3 factors of 4

Example 3 Read and write powers

Power Words Product

a)
1 1
(5) One-Fifth to the first power
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b) 62 Six to the second power. Six squared.

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c) 34 Three to the fourth power.

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d) 𝑝3 p to the third power. p cubed

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 ✓ Write the power in words and as a product.
3. 95 4. 28 5. 𝑛4

Example 4 Evaluate powers

Evaluate the expression.

9
a) 𝑛5 when 𝑛 = 3 b) 𝑘 2 when 𝑘 = 2.5 c) 𝑑 2 when 𝑑 = 5

✓ Evaluate the expression.

6. 𝑥 3 when 𝑥 = 8

Area and Volume

Exponents are used in the formulas for the area of a square and the volume of a cube. In fact, the words squared
and cubed come from the formula for the area of square and the formula for the volume of a cube.

Example 5 Evaluate a power

Each edge of a large-sized pop-up storage cube shown is 20 inches long. The storage cube is made so that it can
be folded flat when not in use. Find the volume of the storage cube.