Making Equivalent Expressions
Aligned to 6.EE.A.3 — Common Core State Standards for Mathematics.
What this lesson teaches
You can rewrite an expression in a simpler equal form using the distributive property or by combining like terms (terms with the same variable).
Worked examples
Example 1
Simplify 2(x + 4) + 3x: distribute → 2x + 8 + 3x, then combine like terms 2x and 3x → 5x + 8.
Example 2
Simplify 4(2y − 3) − y: distribute → 8y − 12 − y, then combine → 7y − 12.
Example 3
Only like terms combine. 3x + 2x² stays as it is — x and x² are different kinds of term.
Practice questions
- Use the distributive property to expand 5(y + 2).
- Combine like terms: 6a + 2 + 3a.
- Simplify 4(n + 1) + 2n − 3.
Watch the lesson
Every lesson comes with a video taught in English and Spanish — the same video the QR code in the printed workbook opens.
▶ Watch this lessonEn español
Crear Expresiones Equivalentes
Puedes reescribir una expresión en una forma equivalente más simple usando la propiedad distributiva o combinando términos semejantes (los que tienen la misma variable).
Ejemplo 1: Simplifica 2(x + 4) + 3x: distribuye → 2x + 8 + 3x, luego combina los términos semejantes 2x y 3x → 5x + 8.
Ejemplo 2: Simplifica 4(2y − 3) − y: distribuye → 8y − 12 − y, luego combina → 7y − 12.
Ejemplo 3: Solo se combinan términos semejantes. 3x + 2x² se queda así — x y x² son términos de distinto tipo.
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