Tips

• Combine like terms, such as numbers with units (1 min, 5 hr, 3 mi) vs constants (1, 4) vs variables (x, y) separately

EXAMPLES

• Simplify: 5x + 3y + 2x + 9 + y – 2

(5x + 2x) + (3y + y) + (9 – 2)

7x + 4y + 7

Distributive Property

• a * (b + c) = a * b + b * c = ab + bc

EXAMPLES

• Simplify: –4 * (2x - 1) => –8x + 4

• Simplify: 4a – (b + a) => 3a – b

Number Types

• Rational Numbers: 349 5 12

• Integers: numbers above AND -3 -24 0

• Rational Numbers: nubmers above AND 0.75 3.2125 -1.7 7.66666... 2.1515.....

• Irrational Numbers: π √3 -√3

• Real Numbers: all numbers above

Order of Operations

• Follow order of operations (PEMDAS) - PEMDAS stands for parentheses, exponents, multiplication, division, addition, & subtraction. Complete all mathematical operations in this order (ex: start with parentheses, etc)

EXAMPLES

• Simplify: –5 (3y + 1 + 9) + 2

-5 (3y + 10) + 2 [Parentheses]

-15y + -50 + 2 [Multiplication]

-15y + 48 [Addition]