Algebra is from the Arabic "al-jabr" meaning "reunion of broken parts". It comes from the title of the book Ilm al-jabr wa'l-muḳābala by Persian mathematician and astronomer al-Khwarizmi.
It is powerful in 'undoing' problems to find a solution. The letter x plays a starring role! |
Glossary
Variable - a mystery number that can be replace the letter in an expression or equation. Usually x but it can be any letter or Symbol.
Expression - a sentence that represents a number crunching machine . e.g. 3x -2y + 7
which means 3 times the mystery number x subtract 2 times another another mystery number y and then add 7.
Equation - where two expressions are separated by an equal sign. e.g. 5x - 3 = 17
which means that 5 times the mystery number and then subtract 3 must equal 17 ( In this case there can only be one mystery
number that will work x = 4 . (5 times 4 = 20 then 20 - 3 = 17. the Left hand side is the same value as the Right Hand Side)
Variable - a mystery number that can be replace the letter in an expression or equation. Usually x but it can be any letter or Symbol.
Expression - a sentence that represents a number crunching machine . e.g. 3x -2y + 7
which means 3 times the mystery number x subtract 2 times another another mystery number y and then add 7.
Equation - where two expressions are separated by an equal sign. e.g. 5x - 3 = 17
which means that 5 times the mystery number and then subtract 3 must equal 17 ( In this case there can only be one mystery
number that will work x = 4 . (5 times 4 = 20 then 20 - 3 = 17. the Left hand side is the same value as the Right Hand Side)
Watch the video below to set the scene about Algebra.
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Watch this video to see how to undo an equation to find a solution. These involve addition and subtraction.
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Watch this video to see how to undo an equation to find a solution. These involve multiplication and division.
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Watch this video to see how to undo an equation to find a solution. These involve two steps. Remember - SAMDEB ( BEDMAS in reverse)
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