Help for Algebra (Basics)

Basics of Algebra

Algebra is a division of mathematics designed to help solve certain types of problems quicker and easier. Algebra is based on the concept of unknown values called variables, unlike arithmetic which is based entirely on known number values.
This lesson introduces an important algebraic concept known as the Equation. The idea is that an equation represents a scale such as the one shown on the right. Instead of keeping the scale balanced with weights, numbers, or constants are used. These numbers are called constants because they constantly have the same value. For example the number 47 always represents 47 units or 47 multiplied by an unknown number. It never represents another value.

The equation may also be balanced by a device called a variable. A variable is an an unknown number represented by any letter in the alphabet (often x). The value of each variable must remain the same in each problem.
Several symbols are used to relate all of the variables and constants together. These symbols are listed and explained below.

???	Multiply
*	Multiply
/	Divide
+	Add or Positive
-	Subtract or Negative
( )	Calculate what is inside of the parentheses first. (also called grouping symbols)

Basics of the Equation

The diagram on the right shows a basic equation. This equation is similar to problems which you may have done in ordinary mathematics such as:
__ + 16 = 30

You could easily guess that __ equals 14 or do 30 - 16 to find that __ equals 14.
In this problem __ stood for an unknown number; in an equation we use variables, or any letter in the alphabet.
When written algebraically the problem would be:
x + 16 = 30

and the answer should be written:
x = 14