The given box shows the first two of four steps for identifying equivalent expressions. • Simplify each expression. • Substitute a number for each variable. • • Which shows the last two steps in the directions?

After substituting the same number for each variable, compute the value of each expression. Then compare the results: if the values are equal, the expressions are equivalent for that substitution. Choice B gives these final two steps; comparing like terms or requiring identical terms is not the procedure described after substitution.

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