Fundamentals of Math - old

Fundamentals of Mathematics

Algebra, like English, can be broken into a series of parts: expressions and equations. Expressions are to phrases as equations are to sentences. Expressions are numbers, symbols, and operators grouped together to show the value of something, but lack an equal sign (the verb). For example,

9 2

5 + 7 − 8 + 2

3 + 5

Whereas equations are statements that set two expressions equal to each other. For example

9 2 = 81

5 + 7 − 8 + 2 = 6

3 + 5 = 20

We can classify parts of expressions (or equations) even further. Expressions are made up of terms , a single number or variable, or numbers, and variables multiplied together. A variable is a quantity that can change and may contain a coefficient , the number multiplied with a variable. Terms that do not contain any variables are known as constants .

12 + − 3 + 7 + 2

Terms

Coefficients

Variables

Constants

12 , , −3 , 7, 2

12, 1, −3

7, 2

Practice 3.3.1

Directions: Identify each of part of the equation: terms, coefficients, variables, and constants.

Problem 1

Problem 2

Problem 3

Problem 4

Phrase

2 + 4 − 1

7 − 6 +

3 + 8

15 − 11 + 4

Terms

Coefficients

Variables

Constants

Answer Key on Page 119

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