Key Algebra Terminology
Algebra uses specific terms to describe different parts of mathematical expressions. Coefficients are the numbers placed in front of variables (like the 5 in 5x), while terms are individual parts of expressions that can be numbers, variables, or their products.
When these terms combine using operations like addition or subtraction, they form expressions. Unlike equations, expressions don't have an equals sign—they're just mathematical phrases. Factors are numbers that divide evenly into another number with no remainder.
An equation shows that two expressions equal each other, while inverse operations are operations that undo each other (like addition and subtraction). When solving multi-step problems, the order of operations gives us the correct sequence to follow.
Quick Tip: Remember PEMDAS Parentheses,Exponents,Multiplication/Division,Addition/Subtraction to follow the correct order of operations in complex expressions!