Grade 7 · Math

7th grade Add and subtract expressions with letters worksheet

6 printable versionsBuilding Confidence10 questions · answer keyFree · no account

Level: Building Confidence · On Level · Challenge Me

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Add and subtract expressions with letters

Grade 7 Math Worksheet - Building Confidence

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Circle the best answer, or write your answer on the line.

Not to scale. Ari finds a riddle card tucked in a lunchbox. In (2x + 3) + (4x + 5), the x pieces join to make 6x. What is the whole sum with as few terms as possible?
Jun sharpens a pencil down to a stub for this puzzle. How would Jun write (3x + 4) + (2x + 7) with as few terms as possible?
Kira copies a puzzle onto paper, then doodles a cat in the corner. How would Kira write (4x + 1) + (3x + 8) with as few terms as possible?
Milo has one minute on the clock, and it ticks loudly. How would Milo write (7x + 9) − (3x + 4) with as few terms as possible?
Noah digs a puzzle card out of a backpack. How would Noah write (9x + 8) − (4x + 5) with as few terms as possible?
6.
Ren finds a puzzle hiding on the classroom calendar. Which expression is equal to (4x + 3) + (2x + 6)?
- 6x + 9
- 6x + 3
- 9x + 6
- 15x
7.
A friendly robot hands Tala a puzzle with a beep. Which expression is equal to (5x + 2) + (3x + 4)?
- 10x + 4
- 8x + 6
- 8x + 2
- 14x
8.
Zee starts the timer, and it beeps like a chicken. Which expression is equal to (2x + 7) + (6x + 1)?
- 15x + 1
- 8x + 8
- 8x + 7
- 16x
Ari's bags each hold x apples. Crate A has 3 bags and 2 loose apples, crate B has 2 bags and 5 loose. How many apples in all, with as few terms as possible?
Esme's bags each hold x oranges. Crate A has 5 bags and 2 loose oranges, crate B has 2 bags and 4 loose. How many oranges in all, with as few terms as possible?

7th grade Add and subtract expressions with letters worksheet – printable — Print: 1 2 3 4 5 6

About this worksheet

Add and subtract expressions with letters. Every version has 10 questions, and the answer key prints on the second page.

What your child will learn

I can add two expressions like (3x + 4) + (2x + 7) by joining the x pieces and joining the plain pieces.
I can subtract an expression like (6x + 3) − (2x − 4) by taking away every piece, and I know taking away a negative piece puts that amount back.
I can do it with negatives, decimals and fractions, and with three expressions in a row.

Standard: 7.EE.A.1

Words to know

expression: Numbers, letters and operations with no equal sign, like 3x + 4.

term (piece): One part of an expression that is added or taken away, like 3x or 4.

like terms: Terms with the same letter part, like 2x and 5x. Plain numbers are like terms with each other.

coefficient: The number multiplying the letter. In 3x + 4 it is 3.

constant: A plain number with no letter, like the 4 in 3x + 4.

combine: Join like terms into one term, like 2x + 3x = 5x.

Common mistakes

Your child added the plain numbers into the x pieces, so numbers with no letter became extra x's.

Your child took away the x pieces of the second expression but added its plain number instead of taking it away.

Your child joined the right kinds of pieces but dropped a minus sign, so a negative piece counted as positive. Try circling every minus sign before adding.

What to say

Ask: can a plain piece and an x piece go into one pile?

Ask: when a whole expression is taken away, what happens to every piece in it?

Questions parents ask

What is the most common mistake with add and subtract expressions with letters?

Your child added the plain numbers into the x pieces, so numbers with no letter became extra x's.

How can I help my child with add and subtract expressions with letters?

Ask: can a plain piece and an x piece go into one pile?

Are these 7th grade math worksheets free to print?

Yes. All 6 printable versions at each level are free to print, with the answer key, and no account is needed.

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