 Algebra is a form of mathematic which replaces unknown
numbers with letters, and is a very powerful way to solve problems.
When we replace an unknown number with a letter it is called a
“literal number”
Literal numbers can be used to represent either variables
(the value of the letter can change) or constants (the value of the
letter never changes). We have all used algebra at some point in our
lives and were probably exposed to it at an early age.
Example
For example, we all learned the area of a rectangle is equal to
the width (w) times the height (h), while in algebraic terms this
equation looks like the following:
A= w x h
So once we know the width and the height we can solve the
equation.
A term is an algebraic expression involving letter
and/or numbers (called factors) which are multiplied
together.
Example
3x
Is an algebraic expression, with a single term which has the
factors 3 and x in it.
Example
3x + 6y
Is an algebraic expression which has two terms in it 2x and
6y.
The first term has two factors 3 and x and, the second term has two
factors 6 and y.
|
Printable Lesson