Algebra Chater 1 Section 1: Some Basics of Algebra
In this first section from Chapter 1 , I'll cover some basics of Algebra, including basic terminology. Basic Terms: When a letter is used for a stand-in for a value which can take up any range of numbers, we call it a variable. When a letter is used to represent a specific number (typically when we don't know what it is, but there can only be one), it is said to be a constant. Our Constants An example of this is the gross pay; the pay on your pay check before taxes is given by P G =H×W, where H is the hours worked and the W is your hourly wage. Since hourly wage doesn't change from week to week, it is considered to be constant. If you work part time, than your hours in any given week is considered a variable, because they do tend to change. An algebraic expression consists of a combination of constants, variables, and operation signs. For example, H×W from the pay equation above is considered an expression. When an equals sign is placed ...