Algebra
Algebra is a way of working with numbers and signs to answer a mathematical problem (a question using numbers)
As a single word, "algebra" can mean[1]: * Use of letters and symbols to represent values and their relations, especially for solving equations. This is also called "Elementary algebra". Historically, this was the meaning in pure mathematics too, like seen in "fundamental theorem of algebra", but not now. * In modern pure mathematics, * a major branch of mathematics which studies relations and operations. It's sometimes called abstract algebra, or "modern algebra" to distinguish it from elementary algebra. * a mathematical structure as a "linear" ring, is also called "algebra," or sometimes "algebra over a field", to distinguish it from its generalizations.
A variable is a letter or symbol that takes place of a number in Algebra. Common symbols used are a, x, y, θ, and λ. The letters x and y are commonly used, but remember that any other symbols would work just as well.
Variables are used in algebra as placeholders for unknown numbers. If you see "3 + x", don't panic! All this means is that we are adding a number who's value we don't yet know.
Term: A term is a number or a variable or the product of a number and a variable(s).
An expression is two or more terms, with operations between all terms.
Polynomial: Mathematical sentence with "many terms" (literal English translation of polynomial). Terms are separated by either a plus (+) or a minus (-) sign. There will always be one more term than there are plus (+) or minus (-) signs. Also, the number of terms will (generally speaking) be one higher than the lead exponent.
Base: The number directly preceding an exponent
EX: a2 -> a is the base
Exponent: The number (written in superscript) used to express how many times a base is multiplied by itself
EX: a4 = a * a * a * a -> 4 is the exponent
EX: 43 = 4 * 4 * 4 = 64 -> 3 is the exponent
EX: A Quadratic function has a
As a single word, "algebra" can mean[1]: * Use of letters and symbols to represent values and their relations, especially for solving equations. This is also called "Elementary algebra". Historically, this was the meaning in pure mathematics too, like seen in "fundamental theorem of algebra", but not now. * In modern pure mathematics, * a major branch of mathematics which studies relations and operations. It's sometimes called abstract algebra, or "modern algebra" to distinguish it from elementary algebra. * a mathematical structure as a "linear" ring, is also called "algebra," or sometimes "algebra over a field", to distinguish it from its generalizations.
A variable is a letter or symbol that takes place of a number in Algebra. Common symbols used are a, x, y, θ, and λ. The letters x and y are commonly used, but remember that any other symbols would work just as well.
Variables are used in algebra as placeholders for unknown numbers. If you see "3 + x", don't panic! All this means is that we are adding a number who's value we don't yet know.
Term: A term is a number or a variable or the product of a number and a variable(s).
An expression is two or more terms, with operations between all terms.
Polynomial: Mathematical sentence with "many terms" (literal English translation of polynomial). Terms are separated by either a plus (+) or a minus (-) sign. There will always be one more term than there are plus (+) or minus (-) signs. Also, the number of terms will (generally speaking) be one higher than the lead exponent.
Base: The number directly preceding an exponent
EX: a2 -> a is the base
Exponent: The number (written in superscript) used to express how many times a base is multiplied by itself
EX: a4 = a * a * a * a -> 4 is the exponent
EX: 43 = 4 * 4 * 4 = 64 -> 3 is the exponent
EX: A Quadratic function has a