Simplifying Algebraic Expressions

03/11/2020

Learning Objectives:

• Know what an algebraic expression is

• Know what like terms are

• Able to collect like terms

 Simplifying Algebraic Expressions
• ‘Like terms’ are parts of an expression that
share a common letter and power.

• 4a + 6a

• 7d – 5d
 Simplifying Algebraic Expressions
• When we have more than one letter, we can
only add and subtract the same letter

• 8x + 7y – 3y + 9x

• 5a + 8b – 9c + 2a – b + 3c
 Simplifying Algebraic Expressions
• On whiteboards, simplify the following
expressions
100h + 3j – 80h – 4j
13c – 12c 12b + 7b
11f + 5g + 4g – 7f
8a – 5a
5d + 2e + 4d + 8e
25m + 33n – 4m – 8n + 2n + 5m
 Your turn…
• Complete the algebra pyramids by adding the
bricks next to each other to make the brick
above
Starter

Simplify the
expressions on
the worksheet
 Simplifying Algebraic Expressions
03/11/2020

Learning Objectives:

• Able to simplify and algebraic expression

involving adding and subtracting
• Able to simplify an algebraic expression
involving multiplying and dividing
 Simplifying Algebraic Expressions
• How can I simplify 3a x 2?

• How about 3a x 2a?

 Simplifying Algebraic Expressions
• When multiplying algebraic expressions,
combine the numbers first then the letters

• Examples:
3t x 6 mxp 4u x 7w
3 x 6 = 18 Answer: mp 4 x 7 = 28

Answer: 18t u x w = uw

Answer: 28uw
 Simplifying Algebraic Expressions
• On whiteboards:
6j x 7k
dxe 8 x 3b
2h x 9i
4 x 5a
3f x g
5t x 6t3
 Simplifying Algebraic Expressions
• When multiplying the same letters, combine
them by adding their powers together

• Examples: 4f2 x 5f4 8p5 x 3p6

4 x 5 = 20 8 x 3 = 24

f2 x f4 = f2 + 4 p5 x p6 = p5 + 6

ANSWER: 20f6 ANSWER: 24p11

 Simplifying Algebraic Expressions
• On whiteboards:

9c x 5c
3 4 4b2 x 6b2
2a x 3a
12d2e9 x 3d4e5
 Your turn
• Page 149, Exercise 7B
– Even numbers
 Starter
Simplify the expressions below.

1) 4a + 8a 2) 3b – 5b3) 2c + 3d + 4c – 6d

4) 9e x 4 5) 6f x 5 6) 4g x 3g

7) 8h3 x 5h2 8) 7j4 x 10j7 9) 6k5 x 11k8

 Simplifying Algebraic Expressions
03/11/2020

Learning Objectives:

• Able to simplify and algebraic expression

involving adding and subtracting
• Able to simplify an algebraic expression
involving multiplying
 Simplifying Algebraic Expressions
• What do the following mean?

• 3n 3xn

• n2
nxn

7xmxn
• 7mn
8xnxnxnxn
• 8n4
 Your turn
• Page 149, Exercise 7B
– Even numbers
 Simplifying Algebraic Expressions
• How can I simplify 32a5 ÷ 8a3

32a5 means 32 x a x a x a x a x a

8a3 means 8 x a x a x a

32 x a x a x a x a x a
= 4a2
8xaxaxa
• When dividing the same letters,
divide the numbers first, then
combine the letters by subtracting
the powers

• Example: 32a5 ÷ 8a2

= 4a5 – 2
= 4a3
 Starter
• On whiteboards, simplify the following:

63n ÷ 7n
12 7 6j x 7j
dxe 7b – 8c – 3b + 5c
2h x 9i
5a + 8a
3f x g
80w 9
÷ 10w 3
5t x 6t3
9u4 x 4t3
 Simplifying Algebraic Expressions
03/11/2020

Learning Objectives:

• Able to simplify an algebraic expression

involving multiplying
• Able to simplify an algebraic expression
involving division
• Able to expand a bracket
 Simplifying Algebraic Expressions
• Simplify the following expressions:

a) 14n4 ÷ 7n2 b) 24a5 ÷ 3a4 c) 25c8 ÷ 5c3

d) 42g9 ÷ 6g2 e) 84n10 ÷ 12n6 f) 56b6 ÷ 7b3
g) 16a2d5 ÷ 2a2d3 h) 36f6k6 ÷ 3f4k5 i) 66p8q12 ÷ 6p5q

j) 48r23t3 ÷ 6r16t8
 Expanding Brackets
• ‘Expanding brackets’ means to ‘multiply out’,
or remove the brackets

• To expand brackets, multiply everything inside

the brackets by what is outside them

4(a + 6) 4(3b + 5c)

 Expanding Brackets
• Can you expand these brackets?
7(m – 5) 6(4r + 5t3) 4g2(3g2 – 8h3)
 Expanding Brackets
• Page
 Starter
• Group A:

a) 8x + 9x b) 7y x 9y c) 45z3 ÷ 5z
= 17x = 63y2 = 9z2
• Group B:

a) 6a2 x 5a5 3 b) 42a3b3 ÷ 6ab2 c)2 5c(2c – 7)

= 30a = 7a b = 10c2 – 35c
• Group C:

a) 9f5g7 x84f153g8 b) 96m5n2 ÷ 12m 3n6 c) 3p3(5pq4 – 6p5q48) 4

= 36f g = 8m n
2 -4
= 15p q – 18p8q8
 Your work
• Work through the worksheet that focuses on
the key algebra skills you need to develop

• If you can complete a sheet, you can move to

the next group.