simplify does that mean.. (1 Viewer)

[DivJx]

When something says simplify does that mean that it should be written in factored form if possible?

 

[pLuvia]

Simplify means to evaluate to the simpliest form.

 

[DivJx]

I understand that but does it mean that if the result can be factorised even though it doesn't say to are we expected to write it in factored form.
For example if the once we evaluate a particular question and get an answer of 2xy^2+2yx^2 do we leave it like that or do we write it as: 2xy(y+x) even though the question doesn't say to factorise?

 

[webby234]

The factorised form is simplest.

 

[SoulSearcher]

Just factorise the answer unless they specifically say not to simplify it.

 

[airie]

I thought simplifying and factorising are opposites? o.0 For example, simplifying a polynomial would require you to expand all brackets and colelct like terms etc etc while factorising writes a polynomial as the product of its factors?

 

[abcd9146]

I thought simplifying and factorising are opposites? o.0 For example, simplifying a polynomial would require you to expand all brackets and colelct like terms etc etc while factorising writes a polynomial as the product of its factors?

to factorise means to use brackets
to expand means to remove brackets

 

[vandy88]

simplfy means to put it in the simplest form possible so you do not factorise but you do take out any foctors that you can without factorising esp in the case of fractions

 

[m0ofin]

I thought simplifying and factorising are opposites? o.0 For example, simplifying a polynomial would require you to expand all brackets and colelct like terms etc etc while factorising writes a polynomial as the product of its factors?

Simplifying and factorising aren't really opposites. Expanding is the opposite of factorising and simplify is collecting like terms, as you've said.

 

[airie]

Surely simplifying includes expansions?

 

[SoulSearcher]

Surely simplifying includes expansions?

Expand, Simplify, Factorise, its all a bunch of words. In some cases yes, simplifying would involve expanding. All they really want you to do however is get them into simpler terms i.e. smaller numbers, less terms, that sort of thing.

 

[Riviet]

Simplify is too broad to be the opposite of factorising; as others have previously said, the correct word to use is expanding.
To simplify is to make something as simple as possible; factorising does not simplify, instead it changes the form. Depending on the question, it MIGHT be wiser to factorise or leave expanded.

 

[Mountain.Dew]

as a general rule of thumb, leave it expanded, in the least number of terms possible. usually, when they want a factorised form, they will either tell u in the question, or have "Show/prove that <insert factorised equation>"