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Algebraic Expressions and Equations Unit Vocabulary

Vocabulary Definition Example

term In Algebra a term is either a single number

or variable, or numbers and variables
multiplied together.

Terms are separated by + or signs

Terms whose variables (and their exponents
like terms
such as the 2 in x2) are the same.
7x and 2x

variable A symbol for a number we don't know yet. It

is usually a letter like x or y.

coefficient A number used to multiply a variable.

Example: 6z means 6 times z, and "z" is a
variable, so 6 is a coefficient.

x or -x 1 or -1
constant A fixed value.

In Algebra, a constant is a number on its

own

expression Numbers, symbols and operators (such as +

and ) grouped together that show the value
of something.

equation An equation says that two things are equal. 7 + 2 = 10 1

It will have an equals sign "=" like this:
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Evaluate To calculate the value of

Simplify In general, an expression is in

simplest form when it is easiest to
use.

monomial A polynomial with just one term.

binomial A polynomial with two terms.

trinomial A polynomial with three terms.

polynomial an expression that can have constants,

variables and exponents, that can be
combined using addition, subtraction,
multiplication and division, but:

no division by a variable.
a variable's exponents can only be
0,1,2,3,... etc.
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Distributive that multiplying a number by a group of

numbers added together is the same as 4 ( 6 + 5) = 4 x 6 + 4 x 5
Property doing each multiplication separately
3 (x + 5) = 3x + 15
inverse The operation that reverses the effect of + -
another operation.
operation x /

cancel neutralize or negate the force or effect results in 0

one-step You will only need to perform one step in order to

solve the equation. ( 4 types) +,-, x, and /
equations

two-step You perform two- steps in order to solve

the equation.
equations st
1 Undo addition or subtraction
2nd Undo multiplication or division

multi-step You must perform multiple operations to solve the equation.

Normally has a parentheses in it.
equations
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Commutative you can swap numbers or variables around 5x 6=6x5
and still get the same answer when you add.
Property of x Or when you multiply.
or + 7+ 3 = 3 + 7

5x w= w x5
Associative
Property (x or 5 + ( 7 + 3) = 3 + ( 5 + 7)
+)
The exponent of a number says how many
times to use that number in a multiplication.
exponent

solution A value we can put in place of a variable x+ 7 = 9

(such as x) that makes the equation true. X = 2 is the solution