Variable Definition Lesson

Lesson Objectives
Demonstrate an understanding of arithmetic

Learn the definition of a variable

Learn the definition of a term

Learn the definition of like terms

Learn the definition of an algebraic expression

Learn how to simplify an algebraic expression

Variables, Terms, and Algebraic Expressions

What is a Variable in Math?

Once we finish pre-algebra and have a good understanding of arithmetic, it is

time to move forward and look at more challenging material. One of the first

and most confusing parts of algebra is dealing with the concept of a variable. A

variable can be described in many ways, but generally, we describe a variable

as a box, container, or placeholder for an unknown value. A variable can be

represented with any symbol we would like, however, in algebra the lowercase

letters x,y, and z are most common. As an example, suppose a local hardware

store pays Jacob $80 per day. In addition to this, Jacob receives tips when

helping customers load their vehicles. If we wanted to represent Jacob’s daily

earnings, we could use a variable like x:

80 + x

The first part, 80, represents the known amount Jacob earns each day from the

hardware store. This amount is set and will not change. The second part, x, is a

variable or placeholder for the unknown amount earned in tips. If one day

Jacob receives $5 in tips for a job well done, we can replace the variable x with

the known amount 5 and perform the calculation:

80 + 5 = 85

In that case, Jacob earned $85 for the day.

As another example, suppose we arrive at a gas station and the price per gallon

for premium unleaded fuel is $6. In most cases, we don't know how many

gallons are being purchased, so we can represent our purchase as:

6x

The first part, 6, represents the known price per gallon. The second part, x,

represents the unknown number of gallons. Once we know how many gallons

are required for our fillup, we can multiply 6 by the known number and

calculate our final sale price. Let’s suppose it takes 12 gallons to fill our car on

this visit. In this case, we can replace the variable x with the known amount of

12 and perform the calculation:

6 • 12 = 72

What is a term?

When we move from pre-algebra to algebra, we will be introduced to some new

vocabulary and ways of performing certain operations. First and foremost, let’s

address the change in how we show the multiplication operation. When we

worked in pre-algebra, we often used the "x" symbol to show multiplication

between two numbers:

3x2=6

This shows the operation of 3 multiplied by 2 and the result is 6. Once we get

to algebra, things will change. The "x" symbol is no longer used as it may be

confused with the variable x. Now, we will use a dot placed between the two

numbers:

3•2=6

This form means the same as before, 3 multiplied by 2 is 6. Additionally, we can

place numbers or variables next to each other to imply multiplication. If we are

working with numbers, we will place one or more of the numbers inside of

parentheses:

3(2) = 6

(3)2 = 6

(3)(2) = 6

In each case, we are showing 3 times 2 gives a result of 6. When multiplying a

number times a variable, parentheses are not needed:

4x

This form tells us we have 4 multiplied by x. When a number is multiplying a

variable, it is referred to as a coefficient.

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When a number is not multiplying a variable, it is referred to as a constant.

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A term is a number or a number times one or many variables:

3, 5x, and 7xyz are each an example of a term:

3 » a constant or number

5x » a number (5) multiplied by a variable (x)

7xyz » a number (7) multiplied by three variables: x, y, and z

What are Algebraic Expressions

An algebraic expression is one or more terms separated by plus (+) or (-)

symbols. As an example, suppose we saw:

7xy + 6x - 9

In this case, our algebraic expression is made up of three terms: 7xy, 6x, and 9,

and two operations: plus and minus.

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An algebraic expression will change its value based on the value or values given

for the variable or variables. Let's take a look at a few examples.

Example 1: Evaluate each algebraic expression for the given values of the

variable.

Evaluate: 3x - 1 for x = 1, x = 3, and x = -2

Let's begin with evaluating:

3x - 1 for x = 1

To solve this problem, we plug in a 1 for x

3x - 1 » 3(1) - 1

Now we can evaluate the problem:

3(1) - 1 = 3 - 1 = 2

Evaluating 3x - 1 for x = 1, gives us 2

Let's look at the case where x = 3:

3(3) - 1 = 9 - 1 = 8

Evaluating 3x - 1 for x = 3, gives us 8

Let's look at our final case, where x = -2:

3(-2) - 1 = -6 - 1 = -7

Evaluating 3x - 1 for x = -2, gives us -7

What are like terms?

When we start simplifying algebraic expressions, we will come across "like

terms". Like terms are terms that have the exact same variable parts. This

means the terms have the exact same variables and are raised to the exact

same powers. Let's take a look at some examples of like terms:

Like Terms

1. 7x 3x 5x

2. 4x 2 9x 2 12x 2

3. 11xy 3 -3xy 3 -8xy 3

We can see that our first row of the table has: 7x, 3x, and 5x. In each case, our

variable is x and our exponent is understood to be 1. In the second row, we see

2
4x , 2
9x , and 2
12x . In each case, our variable is x and our exponent is a 2. In

our third and final row, we have 3

11xy , 3
-3xy , and 3
-8xy . In each case, our

variables are x and y. The exponent on each x is understood to be 1. Our

exponent on each y is 3. Let's take a look at some examples in which we don't

have like terms:

Not Like Terms

1. -4x 3xz 5xy

2. -x 2 2x 4 x 3

3. 2
14x y 5 2xy5 2
-x y 3

We can see that our first row of the table has -4x, 3xz, and 5xy. These are not

like terms since the variable parts are not the same. Each term must have the

exact same variable parts in order to be considered "like terms". In row 2, we

have 2
-x , 4
2x , and 3
x . We can see that the variable x is the same for each,

however, the exponents are different. In our last row, we have 2 5

14x y , 5
2xy ,

and 2 3
-x y . We can see that our variables (x and y) are the same, but the

exponents are not the same.

How to Combine Like Terms

We can combine "like terms" by keeping the variable part(s) the same and

performing operations with the coefficients. Let's suppose we had:

3x + 2x

How can we solve this problem? Since 3x and 2x are "like terms", we can add

the coefficients (3 + 2) and keep the variable part the same:

3x + 2x = (3 + 2)x = 5x

To think more deeply about this process, suppose we were just adding apples.

If we had 3 apples and added 2 apples, apples wouldn't change, we would just

add the quantities 3 + 2 = 5. We could then say we had 5 apples.

Now suppose we encountered non-like terms. What does that look like visually?

Let's suppose we had:

3x + 2y

x and y here are different variables. It would be like combining apples and

oranges. They are not the same, so if we had 3 apples and 2 oranges, we can't

make that any simpler. We could only say we have 3 apples and 2 oranges.

Let's take a look at a few examples.

Example 2: Simplify each by combining like terms.

7x 2 + 9x 2

Since the variable part x 2 is the same in each case, we have like terms. To

combine like terms, just perform the operation with the coefficients and keep

the variable part the same:

7x 2 + 9x 2 = (7 + 9)x 2 = 16x 2

Example 3: Simplify each by combining like terms.

3
-4x y - 3
6x y

Since the variable part 3

x y is the same in each case, we have like terms. To

combine like terms, just perform the operation with the coefficients and keep

the variable part the same:

3
-4x y - 3
6x y = (-4 - 3
6)x y = 3
-10x y

Simplifying an Algebraic Expression

In order to simplify an algebraic expression, we use the distributive property to

remove any parentheses and then we combine any like terms. Let's take a look

at a few examples.

Example 4: Simplify each algebraic expression.

5x + 2(x + 3) - 3

We begin by using our distributive property to remove parentheses:

5x + 2x + 6 - 3

Now we can combine like terms. 5x and 2x are like terms, as are 6, and 3:

5x + 2x = (5 + 2)x = 7x

6-3=3

7x + 3

7x and 3 are not like terms since 7x has the variable x and 3 has no variable

present. Therefore, 7x + 3 is our simplified answer:

5x + 2(x + 3) - 3 = 7x + 3

Example 5: Simplify each algebraic expression.

-(x - y) + 3(2x - 4y) - xy

Let's begin by removing parentheses using the distributive property:

-x + y + 6x - 12y - xy

We can now combine like terms. -x and 6x are like terms, as are y and 12y.

-x + 6x = (-1 + 6)x = 5x

y - 12y = (1 - 12)y = -11y

xy will not be able to be combined with anything else. This term has both

variables x and y. It is not like terms with -11y or 5x. Therefore, 5x - 11y - xy is

our simplified answer.

-(x - y) + 3(2x - 4y) - xy = 5x - 11y - xy