How to simplify Algebraic Expressions

Introduction:

 An Algebraic Expression is a combination of numerals, variables and arithmetic operations such as +, -, * and /. In the branch of mathematics, we may use several letters like a, b, x and y which is used to denote numbers. Simplifying extraction of roots, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division on these symbols and real numbers, so that we can get algebraic expressions. The following are some examples of algebraic expressions:

                   2x + 3, (3a + b) (2x – y)

Examples of Simplifying Expressions:

Example 1:
             4x + 7y - 5 + 6x + 12y + 3
Solution:

  This algebraic expression can be simplified by determining like terms and then grouping and combining like terms, like this:
  +4x and +6x are like terms, and can be combined to give +10x, +7y and +12y combine to give +19y, and -5 and +3 combine to give -2.
  So after simplifying, this expression becomes:
                         10x + 19y - 2