Algebra Shouldn't Scare You!!
What is algebra?
Algebra is a branch of mathematics which explains the general trends in the variable activities in our daily lives.
What are these variable activities?
Variable activities are the activities which keep on changing over time. They can go; up, down, left, right or east and west etc. For example; the weight of a person never remains the same, it keeps on changing by getting lower or higher. Sun doesn't stay at the same spot whole day; it looks changing its position all the day along. Stock markets keep getting higher and lower on every single moment. A worker's pay changers according to number of hours worked.
Finally, it can be said that algebra is study of activities which keep on changing with time. As we have countless changing activities around us, therefore algebra is integral part of our daily lives.
What are the main topics learned in algebra?
The main topics in algebra are given below:
- Knowledge about the variables, coefficients and constants
- Writing algebraic expressions
- Simple linear equations in one variable
- Exponents and exponents laws
- Polynomials, degree and type
- Operations with the polynomials; such as, adding polynomials, subtracting, multiplying and dividing polynomials
- Rational expressions
- Factorization of polynomials
- System of linear equations in two and three variables
- Quadratic equations, absolute value equations and inequalities
- Patterns in general like sequences and series.
Why is algebra treated as a very hard topic in mathematics?
Algebra is not that hard. One can take it as a challenging course. It looks hard as it is based on very very general terms. Generic terms mean, for example; let's say you are looking for your younger brother named Rocky, in a crowd. You can call him by saying his name "Rocky" aloud. Also your brother is a boy, and you can call him by saying "boy" aloud. This time the problem is, there are too many boys in the crowd and may be, all of them start looking at you. So, boy is a general name and Rocky is a proper name.
Now if you recognize your brother from his clothes, height or other appearance you can even find him in the crowd by saying boy aloud. It looks hard though, but once your brother recognizes your voice, he will come to you. Same way you need to call algebra aloud (I mean learning it) and it will come to you like your brother.
Algebra has some rules to follow (as your brother has some unique appearance other than his name) and if you follow these rules, algebra is not hard at all.
What are the basic concepts need to be learned before starting algebra?
There are some basic pre-algebra concepts needed to be learned before starting algebra. These topics are given below;
- Basic addition, subtraction, multiplication and division
- Basic geometric shapes and number letter patterns
- Times tables at least up to times by 10
- Know how to write all the factors of a number, finding greatest common factor (gcf) and least common multiple (lcm)
- Fractions and operations with fractions
- Decimals
- Integers and
- Order of operations
In future posts we will explore some of the prealgebraic topics such as decimals, integers and order of operations.
I dont like this post! lol! Soy un estudiante de ingenieria. Si habre sufrido con esa materia, con sus teoremas, elipses, matrices, etc etc
I hate algebra, haha!
Nothing should scare you. You are the Supreme:))
hahaha I had a teacher who was a dinosaur! It was scary to be near her. I approve, but I almost faint. The exam was at 8, and left the exam at 13
LOL. I agree. Teachers make and break the perfect careers of many of us.
Yeahhh... Luckily, I approve, with a low note, but approve. There where girl friends who cried for the things the teacher said. The teacher told a classmate on the exam: you study to get a husband (screaming) lol !!!!
LOL. You made my day tincho:))
I love maths like that 'crazy aunt.' Glad she's there doing her thing, but I don't want to see her too often ;)
I love the way maths can reveal and describe truths that are all around us. I'm extremely grateful that there are so many who are thousands of times better at it than me.
We are always better at something benjojo. You might be better than millions on some other skills. Thanks for the kind words:))
@mathworksheets, are you mathematic teacher? Could I ask you for special request? Could you explain more or make an serial article about algebra from basic in steemit. Really Mathematic is mother of chemistry and physic also computer science. It is fun that someone like you make posting about math. Honestly I really dummy in math. Nice !
Yes, happyphoenix. Math is in my blood. Glad that you asked about basic algebra. I am starting a step by step series of basic algebra presentations ending up till college level calculus. Don't think you are a dummy in math. It is always the environment you learned math. Most of the times the way maths is taught in our classrooms never come to the level of all kids' understanding which is the first reason we start to hate math.
For example; grade 10 maths have a link back to 4th grade math. If a student were not taught (or he/she didn't learn it or didn't care about it in Gr. 4 neither teachers and parents cared about) least common multiple (lcm) and greatest common factor (gcf) in grade 4 then many of grade 10 maths concepts such as factoring polynomials will make no sense to this student at all and he/she will lose his/her interest in maths; thinking that he/she was not so intelligent or he/she is dumb which is not true at all . Truth is math is a rhythm or all linked and if you missed a link then all chain is broken.
God Bless
Manjit