Introduces foundational algebraic concepts, including equations, expressions, and order of operations.

Algebraic Expressions

A combination of constants and variables connected by the signs of fundamental operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division is called an algebraic expression.

Types of Algebraic Expressions

Monomial: A monomial is an algebraic expression containing only one term.

Binomial: A binomial is an algebraic expression containing only two terms.

Trinomial: A trinomial is an algebraic expression containing only three terms.

Quadrinomial: A quadrinomial is an algebraic expression containing only four terms.

Polynomial: A polynomial is an algebraic expression containing one or more terms with powers of variables as only whole numbers.

Factors and Coefficients

Factors are numbers and literals multiplied together to get the given expression.

Like and Unlike Terms

Terms of an expression with the same literal coefficient are called like terms.

Operations on Algebraic Expressions

To add or subtract two polynomials, arrange the like terms together and simplify them according to their signs. The sum of the like terms is another like term whose coefficient is the sum of the coefficients of the terms added. Note that unlike terms cannot be simplified further and have to be written as they are.

Use of Grouping Symbols (Brackets) in Writing Algebraic Expressions

In dealing with algebraic expressions, sometimes it becomes necessary to consider an expression consisting of two or more terms as a single term.

Removal of Brackets

In the above section, we have seen that when we make operations on two or more algebraic expressions, we use the symbols of groupings, i.e., parentheses, braces and brackets.

Order of Operations on Algebraic Expressions