Assessment and Learning in Knowledge Spaces (ALEKS) Practice Exam

What process is used to simplify the expression 5x + 3x?

1. Substitution

2. Distribution

3. Combining like terms

4. Factoring out

The correct answer is: Combining like terms

The process used to simplify the expression 5x + 3x is combining like terms. This concept involves identifying terms that have the same variable component, in this case, both terms contain the variable x. When you combine like terms, you add the coefficients together—in this instance, 5 and 3—to produce a single term. Therefore, 5x + 3x simplifies to (5 + 3)x, which equals 8x. Combining like terms is a fundamental skill in algebra that helps in simplifying expressions and equations to their most reduced form. This enables easier manipulation and understanding of mathematical relationships. The other options involve different mathematical techniques that do not apply to the scenario at hand. Substitution refers to replacing a variable with a number or another expression, distribution involves multiplying a term across an expression, and factoring out is a technique used to express an expression as a product of factors, none of which apply to the simple addition of like terms.