Linear Subtraction Worksheet
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Date:
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Score: / 10
Linear Expression Striker
Skill Focus: Subtraction of Linear Expressions & Combining Like Terms
Math Practice 7.EE.1
Directions: Simplify each expression by distributing the negative sign to all terms in the second expression, then combine like terms: \((ax + b) - (cx + d) = ax + b - cx - d\) . Show your complete work.
1
\((8x + 7) - (3x + 2)\)
Answer:
2
\((6y - 5) - (2y + 4)\)
Answer:
3
\((5a + 9) - (2a - 3)\)
Answer:
4
\((11m - 4) - (-3m + 8)\)
Answer:
5
\((-4k + 10) - (7k - 2)\)
Answer:
6
\((-9p - 6) - (-5p - 11)\)
Answer:
7
\((4.5w - 1.2) - (1.8w + 3.6)\)
Answer:
8
\(\left(\frac{5}{6}n + 4\right) - \left(\frac{1}{6}n - 2\right)\)
Answer:
9
\(2(3x + 5) - (4x - 1)\)
Answer:
10
\((14x - 3) - 2(3x - 5)\)
Answer:
Check: Did you flip every sign inside the subtracted group?
Confidence:
Need Help Getting It Mastered
Linear Subtraction Answer Key
Linear Expression Striker Answer Key
Standard: CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.7.EE.A.1 • Complete Step-by-Step Solutions
Teacher Reference
Common Misconception Alert: Students frequently forget to distribute the negative sign to the second term inside parentheses (e.g., writing \(-(2a - 3) = -2a - 3\) instead of \(-2a + 3\)). Look for sign reversals on problems 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, and 10.
1
\((8x + 7) - (3x + 2)\)
Distribute: \(8x + 7 - 3x - 2\)
Group: \((8x - 3x) + (7 - 2)\)
Basic binomial
\(5x + 5\)
2
\((6y - 5) - (2y + 4)\)
Distribute: \(6y - 5 - 2y - 4\)
Group: \((6y - 2y) + (-5 - 4)\)
Watch: \(-5 - 4 = -9\)
\(4y - 9\)
3
\((5a + 9) - (2a - 3)\)
Distribute: \(5a + 9 - 2a + 3\)
Group: \((5a - 2a) + (9 + 3)\)
Alert: \(-(-3) = +3\)
\(3a + 12\)
4
\((11m - 4) - (-3m + 8)\)
Distribute: \(11m - 4 + 3m - 8\)
Group: \((11m + 3m) + (-4 - 8)\)
Alert: \(-(-3m) = +3m\)
\(14m - 12\)
5
\((-4k + 10) - (7k - 2)\)
Distribute: \(-4k + 10 - 7k + 2\)
Group: \((-4k - 7k) + (10 + 2)\)
Watch: \(-4k - 7k = -11k\)
\(-11k + 12\)
6
\((-9p - 6) - (-5p - 11)\)
Distribute: \(-9p - 6 + 5p + 11\)
Group: \((-9p + 5p) + (-6 + 11)\)
Both signs flip in 2nd term
\(-4p + 5\)
7
\((4.5w - 1.2) - (1.8w + 3.6)\)
Distribute: \(4.5w - 1.2 - 1.8w - 3.6\)
Group: \((4.5w - 1.8w) + (-1.2 - 3.6)\)
Decimal arithmetic
\(2.7w - 4.8\)
8
\(\left(\frac{5}{6}n + 4\right) - \left(\frac{1}{6}n - 2\right)\)
Distribute: \(\frac{5}{6}n + 4 - \frac{1}{6}n + 2\)
Group: \(\frac{4}{6}n + 6 = \frac{2}{3}n + 6\)
Simplified fraction form
\(\frac{2}{3}n + 6\)
9
\(2(3x + 5) - (4x - 1)\)
Expand 2: \(6x + 10 - 4x + 1\)
Group: \((6x - 4x) + (10 + 1)\)
Multi-step distribution
\(2x + 11\)
10
\((14x - 3) - 2(3x - 5)\)
Distribute -2: \(14x - 3 - 6x + 10\)
Group: \((14x - 6x) + (-3 + 10)\)
Distribute \(-2 \cdot -5 = +10\)
\(8x + 7\)
Scoring Scheme: 1 pt for correct sign distribution + 1 pt for combining like terms (2 pts per question, 20 pts total).
Accept equivalent forms (e.g., \(\frac{4}{6}n + 6\) for #8)
Linear Subtraction Exit Ticket
Linear Expression Exit Ticket
Quick Check
Name:
Date:
Period:
1
\((9x + 6) - (4x + 1)\)
Answer:
2
\((7y - 2) - (3y - 8)\)
Answer:
3 Spot the Error:
Marcus simplified \((10m + 5) - (2m - 4)\):
\(10m + 5 - 2m - 4 = 8m + 1\)
Explain his error and write the correct expression:
Correct:
How do you feel?
1: Lost 2: Almost 3: Got It!
Cut Here • 2 Tickets Per Sheet
Linear Expression Exit Ticket
Quick Check
Name:
Date:
Period:
1
\((9x + 6) - (4x + 1)\)
Answer:
2
\((7y - 2) - (3y - 8)\)
Answer:
3 Spot the Error:
Marcus simplified \((10m + 5) - (2m - 4)\):
\(10m + 5 - 2m - 4 = 8m + 1\)
Explain his error and write the correct expression:
Correct:
How do you feel?
1: Lost 2: Almost 3: Got It!
