When one or more operations are performed on an algebraic expression, it is transformed into another equivalent expression.
Basic mathematical operations (i.e., addition, subtraction, multiplication, division) can be applied to algebraic expressions. Certain rules relating to each operation must be respected. For an algebraic expression involving several operations, follow the order of operations and the laws of exponents.
The result of one of the operations will be in the form of an algebraic expression. However, the result should be simplified to the smallest possible equivalent expression. The starting algebraic expression and the simplified expression will be equivalent because they have the same numerical value. To do this, we introduce the notion of like terms.
Simplifying an algebraic expression means to rewrite it in its simplest form.