Unit 2a – Algebraic Thinking – Algebraic Expressions

Class Notes

Date Order of Operations

Learning Target: I can apply the order of operations to evaluate numerical expressions.

Key Vocabulary Terms:

 Numerical expression: A mathematical phrase that includes only numbers and operation
symbols
 Evaluate: To find the value of a numerical expression
 Order of Operations: The order you MUST solve a numerical expression in to come up with the
correct answer

Order of Operations
1. Perform operations in parentheses.
2. Find the values of numbers with exponents.
3. Multiply or divide from left to right as ordered in the problem.
4. Add or subtract from left to right as ordered in the problem.

Examples:

1) 36 – 18 ÷ 6 2) 11 + 2³ × 5 3) 62 – 4 × (15 ÷ 5)

4) 5 + 3² × 6 – (10-9) 5) (3² + 6 ÷ 2) × (36 ÷ 6 – 4) 6) (2 × 4)² - 3 × (5 + 3)

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Date Translate Between Words and Math

Learning Target: I can translate between words and math.

I can identify parts of an expression using mathematical terms.

Key Vocabulary Terms:

 Algebraic Expression: An expression that contains at least one variable.
o Example: x + 8 or 4(m – b)
 Variable: A symbol used to represent a quantity that can change. This is usually a letter.
o Example: In 3x + 8, x is the variable.
 Constant: A value that does not change.
o Example: In 3x + 8, 8 is the constant.
 Coefficient: The number that is multiplied by the variable in an algebraic expression.
o Example: In 3x + 8, 3 is the coefficient.

Operation
+ - × ÷
8 × 48
327 ÷ 3
8 • 48
Numerical
37 + 28 90 - 12 (8)(48)
Expression 327
8(48)
3
(8)48

 12 subtracted from
90  8 times 48
 28 added to 37
 90 minus 12  48 multiplied by
 37 plus 28  327 divided by 3
Words or  the difference of 90 8
 The sum of 37 and  The quotient of
Phrases and 12  The product of 8
28 327 and 3
 12 less than 90 and 48
 28 more than 37  Take away 12 from  8 groups of 48
90
n÷3
8•w
Algebraic
x + 28 k - 12 (8)(w)
Expression n
8w
3

 28 added to x  12 subtracted from  8 times w

k
 x plus 28  w multiplied by 8  n divided by 3
 k minus 12
Words or  The sum of x and  The product of 8  The quotient of n
 the difference of k
Phases 28 and w and 3
and 12
 28 more than x  12 less than k  8 groups of w
 Take away 12 from k

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Examples:
Using the expression 4y + 18, identify the following:
1) variable 2) coefficient 3) constant

Write each phrase as a numerical or algebraic expression.

1) 279 minus 125 2) the product of 15 and x 3) 319 less than 678

4) m multiplied by 67 5) 15 divided by d 6) 8 more than x

Write two phrases for each expression.

1) r + 87 2) 345 × 196

3) 476 ÷ 28 4) 5 - d

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Date Evaluating Expressions

Learning Target: I can substitute for a variable and evaluate the expression.

Steps
Write the problem.
1.
Substitute the numbers for the variables.
2.
Leave everything else the same.
3.
Evaluate (Solve the problem).
4.
o You can use a calculator.
o Be sure to follow the Order of Operations.
Remember:

Examples
Whole Numbers
Evaluate each expression if a = 8, b = 2, c = 4 and d = 3.
1) 2a – 3b 2) 8c • 3 3) 2d³
b

Decimals
1) b + (5.68 – 3.007) for b = 6.134 2) (2 × 14) – a + 1.438 for a = 0.062 3) 4³ + 5c for c = 1.9

Fractions
1) 4/5c for c = 12 2) 9/14 ÷ x for x = 1/6 3) 4/5 + 3a for a = 2/3

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Date Identify Equivalent Expressions

Learning Target: I can identify when expressions are equivalent.

I can create equivalent expressions by simplifying like terms.

Key Vocabulary Terms

 Like Terms: Two or more terms that have the same variable raised to the same power.
o Example: In the expression 3a + 5b + 12a, 3a and 12a are like terms.

Examples
Determine if the following expressions are equivalent.
1) 4(2 + 3) and 4(2) + 4(3) 2) 6(3-2) and 18 – 2

3) 3y and y + y + y 4) 2(a + b) and 2ab

5) 3(a – 12) and 3a - 36 6) 5(20) and 5 (5 + 5)

Create equivalent expressions by simplifying the following expressions.

1) 4 + 2n + 7 2) 9c + 5 – 3c + 2

3) 7n – 3n + 3 4) 6x + 3y – 8 +x + 6y

5) 7e + 2e +4ef + 2g +ef + 4 6) 8q + 4r² + 5q² - 7q + 10r²

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Date Generate Equivalent Expressions

Learning Target: I can generate equivalent expressions.

I can create equivalent expressions using the distributive property.

Key Vocabulary Terms

 Distributive Property: Involves addition/subtraction and multiplication. It states that when you
multiply one number by the sum (or difference) of two numbers the result is equal to the sum
(or difference) of the two products.
o Example: 5(3 + 7) = 5 • 3 + 5 • 7

Examples

Replace each with a number that makes the expressions equivalent.

C
1) 4 + 1 and +2 2) 12 ÷ 4 = 9 ÷

3) 5(4) and 10 ( ) 4) 4 × 23 and (4 × 20) + (4 × )

5) 4y - 12 and 4(y - ) 6) c(w - ) and cw - cd

C

Create equivalent expressions by using distributive property.

1) 8 × 74 2) (6 × 10) + (6 × 4)

3) 6(2) + 6(7) 4) 8(5 - 2)

5) 2(s + t) 6) 7(x) – 7(4)

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