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Mathematics LibreTexts

1: Simplifying Expressions

  • Page ID
    83106
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    Learning Objectives

    • Differentiate between the mathematical properties and apply properties correctly.
    • Generalize the FOIL method from numerical examples to algebraic examples.
    • Categorize special products and apply formulas correctly.
    • Assimilate function notation into calculations that use mathematical properties.

    • 1.1: Exponent Properties and More!
      Folks remember, above all else, properties of math! Properties allow us to transform an expression or an equation into an equivalent form. We often need to use properties to move through a problem’s solution. This section introduces several properties. For all the properties in this section, the variables a, b, and c represent real numbers.
    • 1.2: FOIL Method and Special Products
      In this section, examples are given for multiplying a binomial (2-term polynomial) to another binomial. In some cases, the FOIL method yields predictable patterns. We call these “special products.” Recognizing special products will be useful when we turn to solving quadratic equations
    • 1.3: Function Notation and Simplify Expressions
      The goal of this section is to practice function notation. Functions have many interconnected mathematical concepts. Therefore, more detail about functions will emerge in your Precalculus course. This section will practice the correspondence of inputs to outputs using function notation, giving further practice with the properties introduced in previous sections.


    This page titled 1: Simplifying Expressions is shared under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Jennifer Freidenreich.

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