Algebra Basic Definitions.docx
- 1. Algebra - Basic Definitions What is an Equation An equation says that two things are equal. It will have an equals sign "=" like this: x + 2 = 6 That equation says: what is on the left (x + 2) is equal to what is on the right (6) So an equation is like a statement "this equals that" Parts of an Equation So people can talk about equations, there are names for different parts (better than saying "that thingy there"!) Here we have an equation that says 4x − 7 equals 5, and all its parts: 4 coefficient, x variable, - operator, 7, 5, constants A Variable is a symbol for a number we don't know yet. It is usually a letter like x or y. A number on its own is called a Constant. A Coefficient is a number used to multiply a variable (4x means 4 times x, so 4 is a coefficient)
- 2. Variables on their own (without a number next to them) actually have a coefficient of 1 (x is really 1x) Sometimes a coefficient is a letter like a or b instead of a number: Example: ax2 + bx + c x is a variable a and b are coefficients c is a constant An Operator is a symbol (such as +, ×, etc) that shows an operation (ie we want to do something with the values). 4x-7=5 A Term is either a single number or a variable, or numbers and variables multiplied together. An Expression is a group of terms (the terms are separated by + or − signs) So, now we can say things like "that expression has only two terms", or "the second term is a constant", or even "are you sure the coefficient is really 4?" Exponents The exponent (such as the 2 in x2 ) says how many times to use the value in a multiplication. Examples: 82 = 8 × 8 = 64 y3 = y × y × y
- 3. y2 z = y × y × z Exponents make it easier to write and use many multiplications Example: y4 z2 is easier than y × y × y × y × z × z Polynomial Example of a Polynomial: 3x2 + x - 2 A polynomial can have constants, variables and the exponents 0,1,2,3,... But it never has division by a variable. Exponents: 0,1,2, …. 5𝑥𝑦2_ 3𝑥 + 5𝑦3 − 3 Monomial, Binomial, Trinomial There are special names for polynomials with 1, 2 or 3 terms: 3𝑥𝑦2 (Monomial 1 term) 5𝑥 − 1(Binomial 2 term) 3x+ 5𝑦2 − 3(Trinomial 3 term) Like Terms Like Terms are terms whose variables (and their exponents such as the 2 in x2 ) are the same.
- 4. In other words, terms that are "like" each other. (Note: the coefficients can be different) Example: (1/3)xy2 −2xy2 6xy2 Are all like terms because the variables are all xy2