Simplifying

Algebraic
Expressions
Questions - Set 1
 Learning Objective
To manipulate expressions.
Targeting Assessment Objectives A01 and A02.

Success Criteria
• To collect like terms.
• To simplify terms with multiplication.
• To simplify terms with division.
• To simplify terms with powers.
 Your Choice
Collecting Terms Simplifying with Multiplication

Simplifying with Division Simplifying with Powers

Simplifying Mixed Questions

 Collecting Terms
Example 1: Write the following expression in its simplest terms:
2x + 6y – y + 3x

Start by rearranging the expression to collect the like terms (xs and ys).
Remember, the add and subtract signs should be collected with the terms
after them, not before.
2x + 3x + 6y – y

Next, simplify each term:

2x + 3x = 5x
6y – y = 5y

2x + 3x + 6y – y = 5x + 5y
 Collecting Terms
Example 2: Write the following expression in its simplest terms:
4x2 – 6x + 3x + 2x2

As before, start by collecting the like terms. Remember, to collect terms, they
must be identical. x2 and x are not like terms.
4x2 + 2x2 – 6x + 3x

Then, simplify:
4x2 + 2x2 – 6x + 3x = 6x2 – 3x
 Collecting Terms: Your Turn
Simplify where possible:
1. 4a + 7b + 2a + 3b =
2. 4 + 5x + 3x + 2 =
3. 3z + 2y + z + 4y =
4. 7c + 5d − 7c − d =
5. 3m + 5 − 2m + 6 =
6. -2p + q − 3p + q =
7. 4x2 + 3x − 2x2 + 3x =
8. 4ab + 2a + 3ba + a =
9. 6a + a2 + a3 =
10. -4x + 2y − 8x − 3y =

Answers
 Collecting Terms: Answers
Simplify where possible:
1. 4a + 7b + 2a + 3b = 6a + 10b
2. 4 + 5x + 3x + 2 = 8x + 6
3. 3z + 2y + z + 4y = 6y + 4z
4. 7c + 5d − 7c − d = 4d
5. 3m + 5 − 2m + 6 = m + 11
6. -2p + q − 3p + q = −5p + 2q
7. 4x2 + 3x − 2x2 + 3x = 2x2 + 6x
8. 4ab + 2a + 3ba + a = 7ab + 3a
9. 6a + a2 + a3 = 6a + a2 + a3 [cannot be simplified]
10. -4x + 2y − 8x − 3y = -12x − y

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 Simplifying with Multiplication
Example 1: Simplify the following expression:
5 × 3c

To find 5 lots of 3c, we multiply the 3 by 5:

5 × 3c = 15c

Example 2: Simplify the following expression:

2a × 4b

In this case, we have two different algebraic terms. Because they’re different,
we multiply the numbers but leave the algebraic terms:
2a × 4b = 8ab
 Simplifying with Multiplication
Example 3: Simplify the following expression:
a2 × a3

When multiplying the same algebraic term, we add the indices:

a2 × a3 = a2 + 3 = a5

Example 4: Simplify the following expression:

3a2b × 4a3b3

In longer questions like this, look at the coefficients and each algebraic term
separately:
3 × 4 = 12
a2 × a3 = a2 + 3 = a5
b × b3 = b1 + 3 = b4 (remember, b = b1)

3a2b × 4a3b3 = 12a5b4

 Simplifying with Multiplication
Example 5: Simplify the following expression:
2a2b4c-1d 5 × 7a4b3c3d - 2

It doesn’t matter how long the question is, you can still do it by breaking it
down into coefficients and algebraic terms:
2 × 7 = 14
a2 × a4 = a6
b4 × b3 = b7
c-1 × c3 = c2
d5 × d-2 = d3

2a2b4c-1d 5 × 7a4b3c3d - 2 = 14a6b7c2d 3

Simplifying with Multiplication: Your Turn
Simplify where possible:
1. 4ab × 2c =
2. 12x × 3y =
3. 4mn × 3pq =
4. 4a2 × 3a =
5. 12m2p × 2m3p2 =
6. x6 × 3x2 =
7. 0.5a3 × 6b2 =
8. 3m2p × 3m2p =
9. 5nm × 5nm =
10. 4ac × 2ca =

Answers
Simplifying with Multiplication: Answers
Simplify where possible:
1. 4ab × 2c = 8abc
2. 12x × 3y = 36xy
3. 4mn × 3pq = 12mnpq
4. 4a2 × 3a = 12a3
5. 12m2p × 2m3p2 = 24m5p3
6. x6 × 3x2 = 3x8
7. 0.5a3 × 6b2 = 3a3b2
8. 3m2p × 3m2p = 9m4p2
9. 5nm × 5nm = 25n2m2
10. 4ac × 2ca = 8a2c2

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 Simplifying with Division
Example 1: Simplify the following expression:
12x ÷ 6

As the only thing both terms have in common are numbers, we just divide 12
by 6, leaving the x alone:
12x ÷ 6 = 2x

Example 2: Simplify the following expression:

First, remember that the line in the middle of the fraction means divide. This
question is the same as asking b5 ÷ b3.

When dividing algebraic terms, we subtract the indices:

b5 ÷ b3 = b5 – 3 = b2
 Simplifying with Division
Example 3: Simplify the following expression:

In questions like this, treat the coefficients and each algebraic term
separately:
27 ÷ 9 = 3
a2 ÷ a = a2 – 1 = a (remember, a = a1)
b3 ÷ b5 = b3 – 5 = b-2

= 3ab-2
 Simplifying with Division
Example 4: Simplify the following expression:

Watch out for negative signs when dividing by negative indices:

15 ÷ 5 = 3
n3 ÷ n-2 = n3 – (-2) = n5

= 3n5
 Simplifying with Division
Example 5: Simplify the following expression:

Sometimes, when simplifying a division you will still be left with a fraction.
You can tell that is going to be the case here because 20 is not a factor of 15,
and the power of b on the denominator is higher than the power of b on the
numerator.

In this case, we’ll consider the whole fraction:

simplifies to cancels to b on the denominator

cancels to a on the numerator

 Simplifying with Division: Your Turn
Simplify:
1. =
2. a7 ÷ a2 =
3. =
4. =
5. 6rst ÷ 2rs =
6. 5mp ÷ 15m2 =

7. =
8. =
9. =
10. =

Answers
 Simplifying with Division: Answers
Simplify:
1. = x2
2. a7 ÷ a2 =
a5
3. = 5p
4. = m
5. 6rst ÷ 2rs 3xy
= 2
6. 5mp ÷ 15m2 =
3t
p
3m
7. = x
8. =
4 𝟑
7a b
9. = c 𝟐
10. = 4n
3m
4b
𝟐
ac
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 Simplifying with Powers
Example 1: Simplify the following expression:
(x2)3

When raising a power to a power, you multiply the indices:

(x2)3 = x2 × 3 = x6

Example 2: Simplify the following expression:

(2x5)4

In this question, you have to raise both the algebraic term and the coefficient
to the power of 4. Do this separately:
(x5)4 = x5 × 4 = x20
24 = 16

(2x5)4 = 16x20
 Simplifying with Powers: Your Turn
Simplify:
1. (x3)2 =
2. (6x2)2 =
3. (x5)2 =
4. (3x)2 =
5. (4m2)2 =
6. (5yz2)2 =
7. (2bc3)5 =
8. (3a4)3 =
9. (2m3)4 =
10. (x2)2 =

Answers
 Simplifying with Powers: Answers
Simplify:
1. (x3)2 = x6
2. (6x2)2 = 36x4
3. (x5)2 = x10
4. (3x)2 = 9x2
5. (4m2)2 = 16m4
6. (5yz2)2 = 25y2z4
7. (2bc3)5 = 32b5c15
8. (3a4)3 = 27a12
9. (2m3)4 = 16m12
10. (x2)2 = x4

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 Simplifying Mixed Questions: Your Turn
Simplify:
1. 5x + 2y + x + 6y =
2. 7y × 3yz =
3. =
4. (x4)5 =
5. -3m + 2n − 8m − n =
6. 5x3y × 3y2x4 =
7. =
8. (3y2)3 =
9. 4 − 2x − 5x − 10 =
10. 5mn × 0.5mn2 =

Answers
 Simplifying Mixed Questions: Answers
Simplify:
1. 5x + 2y + x + 6y = 6x + 8y
2. 7y × 3yz = 21y2z
3. = 5x
4. (x4)5 = x20
5. -3m + 2n − 8m − n = -11m + n
6. 5x3y × 3y2x4 = 15x7y3
7. =
8. (3y2)3 = 27y6
9. 4 − 2x − 5x − 10 = -7x − 6
10. 5mn × 0.5mn2 = 2.5m2n3

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