Editing Elementary algebra (section)

=== Simplifying expressions ===
{{Main|Expression (mathematics)|Computer algebra#Simplification}}
Algebraic expressions may be evaluated and simplified, based on the basic properties of arithmetic operations ([[addition]], [[subtraction]], [[multiplication]], [[Division (mathematics)|division]] and [[exponentiation]]). For example,
*Added terms are simplified using coefficients. For example, <math>x + x + x</math> can be simplified as <math>3x</math> (where 3 is a numerical coefficient).
*Multiplied terms are simplified using exponents. For example, <math>x \times x \times x</math> is represented as <math>x^3</math>
*Like terms are added together,<ref>Andrew Marx, ''Shortcut Algebra I: A Quick and Easy Way to Increase Your Algebra I Knowledge and Test Scores'', Publisher Kaplan Publishing, 2007, {{ISBN|1419552880}}, 9781419552885, 288 pages, [https://books.google.com/books?id=o9GYQjZ7ZwUC&q=like+terms&pg=PA51 page 51]</ref> for example, <math>2x^2 + 3ab - x^2 + ab</math> is written as <math>x^2 + 4ab</math>, because the terms containing <math>x^2</math> are added together, and the terms containing <math>ab</math> are added together.
*Brackets can be "multiplied out", using [[Distributive property|the distributive property]]. For example, <math>x (2x + 3)</math> can be written as <math>(x \times 2x) + (x \times 3)</math> which can be written as <math>2x^2 + 3x</math>
*Expressions can be [[Factorization|factored]]. For example, <math>6x^5 + 3x^2</math>, by dividing both terms by the common [[Factor (arithmetic)|factor]], <math>3x^2</math> can be written as <math>3x^2 (2x^3 + 1)</math>