Evaluate The Expression - Steps, Examples & Questions

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Evaluate the expression

Here you will learn how to evaluate the expression given a value for the variable.

Students will first learn how to evaluate the expression as part of expressions and equations in 6th grade.

Every week, we teach lessons on evaluating the expression to students in schools and districts across the US as part of our online one-on-one math tutoring programs. On this page we’ve broken down everything we’ve learnt about teaching this topic effectively.

What does it mean to evaluate the expression?

To evaluate the expression means to substitute the variable(s) of a polynomial with given value(s).

For example,

If $x=6,$ what is the value of $6x+1?$

Substitute $6$ for $x$ and follow the order of operations:

$\begin{aligned} & 6(6)+1 \\\\ & =36+1 \\\\ & =37 \end{aligned}$

The same process can be used when there is more than one variable.

For example,

If $c=2$ and $t=4,$ what is the value of $3 \, (c-1)+t^2?$

Substitute $2$ for $c$ and $4$ for $t$ , and follow the order of operations:

$\begin{aligned} & 3(2-1)+4^2 \\\\ & =3(1)+4^2 \\\\ & =3(1)+16 \\\\ & =3+16 \\\\ & =19 \end{aligned}$

What does it mean to evaluate the expression?

Common Core State Standards

How does this relate to 6th grade math?

Grade 6 – Expressions and Equations (6.EE.B.5)
Understand solving an equation or inequality as a process of answering a question: which values from a specified set, if any, make the equation or inequality true? Use substitution to determine whether a given number in a specified set makes an equation or inequality true.

[FREE] Evaluate The Expression Worksheet (Grade 6 and 7)

Check your 6th and 7th grade students’ understanding of evaluating the expression with this 15-question worksheet with answers for easy assessment. Save time and quickly identify areas of strength and support!

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[FREE] Evaluate The Expression Worksheet (Grade 6 and 7)

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How to evaluate the expression

In order to evaluate the expression:

Substitute each variable with its given value.
Evaluate using the order of operations.

Evaluate the expression examples

Example 1: one step, one variable

Evaluate $4m$ when $m=35.$

Substitute each variable with its given value.

Remember, numbers and letters written next to each other are being multiplied:

$4 \times 35$

2Evaluate using the order of operations.

There is only one step, multiply.

$4 \times 35=140$

Example 2: two steps, one variable

Evaluate $3 \, (h+22)$ when $h=9.$

Substitute each variable with its given value.

$3 \, (9+22)$

Evaluate using the order of operations.

$\begin{aligned} & 3(9+22) \\\\ & =3(31) \quad \quad \text{ *Remember, } 3 \, (31) \text{ is the same as } 3 \times 31 \\\\ & =93 \end{aligned}$

Example 3: two steps, one variable, and a fraction

Evaluate $50-\cfrac{m}{2}$ when $m=20.$

Substitute each variable with its given value.

$50-\cfrac{20}{2}$

Evaluate using the order of operations.

Because the numerator is larger than the denominator, the fraction can be simplified with division: $\, \cfrac{20}{2}=20 \div 2.$

$\begin{aligned} & 50-\frac{20}{2} \\\\ & =50-10 \\\\ & =40 \end{aligned}$

Example 4: two steps, two variables

Evaluate $11x-2y$ , when $x=5$ and $y=6.$

Substitute each variable with its given value.

$11 \times 5-2 \times 6$

Evaluate using the order of operations.

$\begin{aligned} & 11 \times 5-2 \times 6 \\\\ & =55-2 \times 6 \\\\ & =55-12 \\\\ & =43 \end{aligned}$

Example 5: three steps, two variables, and a mixed number

Evaluate $5(3+p)-r$ , when $p=11$ and $r=22 \, \cfrac{1}{3} \, .$

Substitute each variable with its given value.

$5(3+11)-22 \, \cfrac{1}{3}$

Evaluate using the order of operations.

$\begin{aligned} & 5(3+11)-22 \cfrac{1}{3} \\\\ & =5(14)-22 \cfrac{1}{3} \quad \quad \text{ **Remember } 5(14) \text{ is the same as } 5 \times 14 \\\\ & =70-22 \cfrac{1}{3} \\\\ & =47 \cfrac{2}{3} \end{aligned}$

Example 6: three steps, two variables, and an exponent

Evaluate $a^3(n-7)$ , when $a=3$ and $n=9.$

Substitute each variable with its given value.

$3^3(9-7)$

Evaluate using the order of operations.

$\begin{aligned} & 3^3(9-7) \\\\ & =3^3(2) \quad \quad \text{ **Remember } 3^3 \text{ is the same as } 3 \times 3 \times 3 \\\\ & =27(2) \quad \quad \text{ **Remember } 27(2) \text{ is the same as } 27 \times 2\\\\ & =54 \end{aligned}$

[FREE] Evaluate The Expression Worksheet (Grade 6 and 7)

DOWNLOAD FREE

[FREE] Evaluate The Expression Worksheet (Grade 6 and 7)

DOWNLOAD FREE

Teaching tips for evaluating the expression

A great way to build the conceptual knowledge needed for evaluating algebraic expressions is with hands-on representations, like algebra tiles or other manipulatives. It is also a good idea to start with whole number coefficients and constants, as they are easier for students to make sense of and typically work better with manipulatives.

While “finding the answer” is an important part of this skill, it should not be the only focus. At this stage in their development, students are still building foundational ideas about algebraic expressions, so it is important to draw attention to all parts of the process and help them make mathematical connections. Give students time to find and explore different numbers in the solution set, and encourage them to look for patterns between an expression and its solution set.

Use expressions that come from real life scenarios when possible. This can help students think more deeply about how and why a solution set fits a given algebraic expression. For example, if the expression $8h$ is created to represent how many hotdogs there are based on $h,$ the number of packets, students use the scenario to make connections between the expression and its solution set.

Easy mistakes to make

Not following order of operations (pemdas)
The order of operations should always be used to evaluate the expression. For any given expression, this means solving within the parentheses, then the exponents, then multiplying or dividing from left to right, and finally adding or subtracting left to right. Not following this order will give the incorrect answer.

For example,
Evaluate $x -3y$ when $x=10$ and $y=2.$

Confusing the values of the variables when there is more than one
Always pay attention to which value is assigned to each variable. Mixing them up will result in a different answer.

For example,
Evaluate $5x+y$ when $x=3$ and $y=4.$

Confusing the meaning of a number next to a parenthesis
Remember in an expression when there is a number next to parenthesis, the operation is multiplication.

For example,
If $4 \, (k+10),$ evaluate the expression when $k=1.$

$\begin{aligned} & 4(1+10) \\ & =4(11) \\ & =44 \end{aligned}$

Practice evaluating the expression questions

73

1

34

14

Substitute the variable with its given value.

$8 \times 3-10$

Evaluate using the order of operations.

$\begin{aligned} & 8 \times 3-10 \\\\ & =24-10 \\\\ & =14 \end{aligned}$

115

4 \, \cfrac{3}{5}

18

28

Substitute the variable with its given value.

$\cfrac{23}{5}$

To simplify, $\, \cfrac{23}{5} \,$ can be converted into a mixed number or written as decimal by working out $23 \div 5.$

$23 \div 5=4 \, \cfrac{3}{5}$

85 \, \cfrac{1}{2}

90

130 \, \cfrac{1}{2}

99 \, \cfrac{1}{2}

Substitute the variable with its given value.

$9\left(12-2 \, \cfrac{1}{2}\right)$

Evaluate using the order of operations.

$\begin{aligned} & 9\left(12-2 \, \cfrac{1}{2}\right) \\\\ & =9\left(9 \, \cfrac{1}{2}\right) \quad \quad \text{ **Remember } 9\left(9 \, \cfrac{1}{2}\right) \text{ is the same as } 9 \times 9 \, \cfrac{1}{2}\\\\ & =85 \, \cfrac{1}{2} \end{aligned}$

57.1

139.3

22.3

63.8

Substitute each variable with its given value.

$6 \times 1.3+7 \times 8$

Evaluate using the order of operations.

$\begin{aligned} & 6 \times 1.3+7 \times 8 \\\\ & =7.8+7 \times 8 \\\\ & =7.8+56 \\\\ & =63.8 \end{aligned}$

17

42

30

20

Substitute each variable with its given value.

$44-2(4+3)$

Evaluate using the order of operations.

$\begin{aligned} & 44-2(4+3) \\\\ & =44-2(7) \quad \quad \text{ **Remember } 2(7) \text{ is the same as } 2 \times 7\\\\ & =44-14 \\\\ & =30 \end{aligned}$

63

584

408

515

Substitute each variable with its given value.

$5(3)^4+3$

Evaluate using the order of operations.

$\begin{aligned} & 5 \times 3^4+3 \quad \quad \text{ **Remember } 3^4=3 \times 3 \times 3 \times 3 \\\\ & =5 \times 81+3 \\\\ & =405+3 \\\\ & =408 \end{aligned}$

Evaluate the expression FAQs

How are numerical expressions similar to algebraic expressions?

When evaluating for a specific value, you use only numbers, so the variables in an algebraic expression need to be substituted. Then you evaluate both types of expressions by following the order of operations.

How do you evaluate equations and inequalities?

You can evaluate them in the same way that you do expressions, by substituting a value for the variable(s).

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