Tips for Algebra Success: Remember these and you will meet with much success in algebra!

4x VARIABLE COEFFICIENT To combine LIKE TERMS, add or subtract the coefficients, but keep the variable the same. 4x = x + x + x + x “The product of 4 and x”

4x 5.4x ½x -3x 2x -¾x Same Variables and Same Exponents LIKE TERMS Add and subtract these!

4x 4xy 2x2 NOT LIKE TERMS Don’t think of trying to add or subtract these!

4x + 4 = 12 EQUATIONS have an sign = x = 2 Any numerical value that makes the statement of equality true is called the SOLUTION.

2x(3) = 6x Simplify. 4y(2y) = 8y2

All whole numbers are rational, and can be written as a fraction The reciprocal of 7 is 1/7.

Multiplying a variable by a fraction is the same as multiplying times the numerator and keeping the denominator x =

x All variables have coefficients 1x =

4x + 8x - 19x = -7x To combine LIKE TERMS, add or subtract the coefficients, but keep the variable the same LIKE TERMS have the same exact variables and exponents.

2y + 3 - 4(2z) TERM TERMS can be CONSTANTS, VARIABLES, or a combination of BOTH. TERMS are separated by a + or – sign. TERM TERM

a – b = a + (-b) Rewrite subtraction as addition of the opposite x – (-y) = x + y

EXPONENT BASE The EXPONENT tells how many times to multiply the BASE by itself. z2 = zz “z raised to the 2nd power”

EXPONENT To multiply variables that are the same, add the exponents. rr = r2 All variables have exponents r= r 1

-1(x + y) = -x + (-y) Distributing a negative changes the sign of the terms in the brackets LIKE TERMS have the same exact variables and exponents.