Lesson 13 TAKS Grade 9 Objective 2

(A.4)(B)
Simplifying Algebraic
Expressions
Three properties of equality govern the way that variables and quantities can
be moved around within an expression. These properties are the commutative
property, the associative property, and the distributive property. New Vocabulary
commutative
Using the Commutative, Associative, and Distributive property
Properties associative property
The Commutative Property of Addition states distributive
that the order in which numbers are added property
does not change their sum: a
bb
a
The Commutative Property of Multiplication states
that the order in which numbers are multiplied
does not change their product: abba
The Associative Property of Addition states that In the equation
the order in which numbers are grouped does not a(b
c)  ab
ac,
change their sum: (a + b) + c  a + (b + c) the factor a is
distributed to
The Associative Property of Multiplication states each term of the
that the order in which numbers are grouped sum (b
c).
does not change their product: (a  b)  c  a  (b  c)
The Distributive Property states that multiplying
a number by a sum or difference gives the same
result as the sum or difference of the products of
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the number and each term: a(b + c)  ab + ac

EXAMPLE 1

Name the property that each equation illustrates.

3
5
23
2
5 The equation involves addition. The order of the numbers is
changed. The equation illustrates the Commutative Property
of Addition.
5  (3  2)  (5  3)  2 The equation involves multiplication. The grouping of the
numbers is changed. The equation illustrates the Associative
Property of Multiplication.
2(3  5)  2  3  2  5 The equation involves multiplication and subtraction. The
multiplication is applied after taking the difference on one
side, and applied before taking the difference on the other.
The equation illustrates the Distributive Property.

Quick Check 1
Name the property that each equation illustrates.
1a. 7
(2
3)  (7
2)
3 1b. 6(3)
6(5)  6(3
5)

TAKS Review and Preparation Workbook LESSON 13 Simplifying Algebraic Expressions 37

TAKS Objective 2 (A.4)(B)
LESSON 13

Simplifying Algebraic Expressions

An algebraic expression is a combination of numbers, operations, and one or
more variables. The commutative, associative, and distributive properties are
used to simplify expressions. The distributive property can be used to obtain
the product of terms that contain groupings. Then, the commutative and
associative properties can be used to rearrange the expression and combine
the like terms.

EXAMPLE 2

a. Simplify the expression 4(x + 3)  5(x  2).

Step 1 Use the distributive property to rewrite the expressions 4(x
3) and 5(x  2).
4(x
3) = (4  x)
(4  3) 5(x  2) = (5  x)  (5  2)
= 4x
12 = 5x  10
Now substitute into the original expression:
4x
12  (5x  10)
Rewrite:
4x
12
1(5x  10)
Use the distributive property again to rewrite 1(5x  10):
1(5x  10)  (1  5x)  (1  10)
 5x
10
So the expression becomes:
4x
12
5x
10
Step 2 Use the commutative property to rearrange the expression
so that like terms are next to one another.

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4x
5x
12
10
Step 3 Combine like terms and simplify.
1x
22
x
22
b. Simplify the expression 5p(p
q).
2

Use the distributive property to rewrite the expression and simplify.

(5p  p2)
(5p  q)
5p3
5pq When using the
distributive property
to simplify
expressions, remember
Quick Check 2 that when like terms
2a. Simplify the expression 6a(a
b)
12b. with exponents are
multiplied, the
2b. Simplify the expression 9x  3(2x  2). exponents are added.
For example,
p2  p3  p2
3  p5.

38 LESSON 13 Simplifying Algebraic Expressions TAKS Review and Preparation Workbook

 Name__________________________Class____________Date________
1 Name the property illustrated by the 5 Which expression is equivalent to
equation below: 5(r
2)  (r
2)?

(a
b)
c  a
(b
c) A 4r
A Commutative Property of Addition B 4r
4
B Distributive Property C 4r
8
C Associative Property of Addition D 4r
12
D Commutative Property of Multiplication

2 Which property does the equation below 6 Simplify the expression 5
y
3(x  11).
illustrate?
F 3x
y  28
a(b
c)  ab
ac G 3y
x
28
F Distributive Property H y
11x  15
G Commutative Property of Multiplication J x
11y
15
H Associative Property of Addition
J Associative Property of Multiplication

7 Which algebraic expression is equivalent

3 Simplify the expression 2x  4(3x  2). to 3x(x2
2)
2(x
1)?
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A 10x
8 A 3x3
2x
8
B 8x
10 B 3x2
2x
8
C 2x  6 C 3x3
8x
2
D 2x
6 D 3x2
8x
2

4 Simplify the algebraic expression

x  y
5(y  2x).

F x
4y
G 9x  6y
H 9x
4y
J 11x  4y

TAKS Review and Preparation Workbook LESSON 13 Simplifying Algebraic Expressions 39