Hello! Today we’re going to learn about some important do’s and don’ts for writing algebraic expressions. Understanding these tips will help you become more confident and accurate in algebra. Let’s get started!
To simplify an expression means rewriting the expression in as short a way as possible by gathering, adding or subtracting, all like-terms to give a single term.
The table below shows examples of good practices when writing simplified expression.
| Good Practices | Not Good Practices |
| g | 1g , 1 × g , g1 |
| 2g | 2 × g , g2 |
| gh | g × h , hg , h × g |
 | g ÷ h |
| g² | g × g |
| g³ | g × g × g |
| Write terms in descending order of their exponents. For example 3g² + 2g + 1 | Writing terms in random order. For example 1 + 3g² + 2g |
| Choose letters that make sense for the context. For example,t for time, and d for distance. | Choose any letter |
| Combine like-terms. For example 2g + 3g should be written as 5g | Not combing like-terms, thus making expression more complicated. |
| Avoid including zeroes that do not change the value of the expression. For example write 4g instead of 4g + 0 | Leave unnecessary zeroes. |
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Conclusion:
Writing algebraic expressions correctly is an essential skill in algebra. By following these do’s and don’ts and practicing regularly, you’ll become more comfortable and accurate in writing expressions. Keep practicing, and you’ll become an algebra expert in no time!
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