Simplifying Expressions with Multiple Variables
Learn how to simplify algebraic expressions using indices (exponents) and collecting like terms. Let’s get started! 🚀

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%20Exponents%20to%20Simplify%20Expressions.webp)
%20Collecting%20Like%20Terms%20to%20Simplify%20Expressions.webp)
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🛎️ Expressions with Multiple Variables
- An expression has multiple variables if it has more than one letter.
- For example, has the variables , , and .
🛎️ Using Exponents to Simplify
- Exponents are used for repeated multiplication.
- For example, can be written as .
🛎️ Collecting Like Terms
- Like terms have the same variables with the same powers.
- For example, and are not like terms and cannot be combined.
- To collect like terms, add or subtract the coefficients, for example .
🛎️ Simplifying an Expression Step by Step
- First expand brackets using the distributive law.
- Then use exponents and collect like terms to simplify fully.
Practice Questions
Test your understanding
Simplify the expression: .
Correct! 🎉 +10 pointsNot quite right
To simplify , we apply exponents. Since occurs 3 times in the multiplication, the expression becomes .
Simplify .
Correct! 🎉 +10 pointsNot quite right
When simplifying , we combine like terms by adding their coefficients. , so the simplified expression is .
Are and like terms?
Correct! 🎉 +20 pointsNot quite right
and are not like terms because they have different exponents. has an exponent of 1 for , whereas has an exponent of 2.
Simplify .
Correct! 🎉 +20 pointsNot quite right
To simplify , collect like terms. Combine and to get . Combine and to get . Thus, the simplified expression is .
Are and like terms?
Correct! 🎉 +20 pointsNot quite right
and are not like terms because they have different variables and exponents. has , whereas has .
Simplify .
Correct! 🎉 +30 pointsNot quite right
First, combine like terms. . Next, note that is the same as , so . Thus, the simplified expression is .
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Simplifying Expressions with Multiple Variables
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