Do students solve for the variable?

No. Students rewrite each expression in an equivalent form with the parentheses removed and like terms combined.

What does the answer key show?

By default, the key shows each distribution step and the final collected expression, with a short reason beside each step. Choose Answers only for final answers without the worked steps.

Are fractions included?

Yes. Every sheet has two integer problems, two fraction problems and two decimal problems. Fraction work stays exact.

What happens when terms cancel?

Two harder problems simplify to just a constant or just a variable term. Show both distribution steps and keep the extra term when collecting.

7th grade expanding and collecting like terms

7th grade expanding and collecting like terms worksheets

Expand two groups, keep the extra term and combine like terms in six problems. Easier problems use positive outside factors. On level adds negative factors and more varied signs inside the groups. Harder includes a negative factor in every problem and two problems where one kind of term cancels. All levels include integer, fraction and decimal factors with complete worked answers.

Free printable PDF worksheet, aligned to Common Core 7.EE.A.1.

Each print is a different sheet with its own answer key. You don't need to sign up.

The kind of problems you'll get

Expand each expression, then combine like terms. Show your steps.

0.2 × (3 × e + 3) − 0.5 × (−2 × e + 2) − 2 × e
Answer: −0.4 × e − 0.4
1/2 × (−x + 2) − 3/4 × (2 × x + 1) + 1
Answer: −2 × x + 5/4
2 × (2 × z − 1) + 2 × (−z + 2) + z
Answer: 3 × z + 2

Every print pulls a fresh set of problems at this level, so a make-up test or a second sibling never gets the same sheet.

What's on a 7th grade sheet

Expanding and collecting like terms. Expand each expression, then combine like terms. Show your steps. 6 problems per page.

Every version prints on US Letter or A4, with its answer key after the problems.

How to teach this

Have your child distribute one group at a time and keep track of each sign. After the parentheses are removed, ask which terms contain the variable and which are constants. If all the variable terms or all the constants cancel, leave that part out of the final expression. Keep any term that remains.

Watch for: Distribute the outside factor to both terms in each pair of parentheses. A negative outside factor changes the sign of each term it multiplies.

Common questions about 7th grade expanding and collecting like terms

Do students solve for the variable?: No. Students rewrite each expression in an equivalent form with the parentheses removed and like terms combined.
What does the answer key show?: By default, the key shows each distribution step and the final collected expression, with a short reason beside each step. Choose Answers only for final answers without the worked steps.
Are fractions included?: Yes. Every sheet has two integer problems, two fraction problems and two decimal problems. Fraction work stays exact.
What happens when terms cancel?: Two harder problems simplify to just a constant or just a variable term. Show both distribution steps and keep the extra term when collecting.

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Aligned to Common Core 7.EE.A.1. Reviewed by the One more sheet team. Content version 240, updated October 2026.

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