Intro to Algebra Vocabulary

Front

What is an expression in algebra?

Back

An expression is a combination of numbers, variables, and operators (such as + and -) without an equal sign.

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What is an equation in algebra?

Back

An equation is a mathematical statement that asserts the equality of two expressions, containing an equal sign.

Front

What is a variable?

Back

A variable is a symbol, often represented by a letter, that stands for a number that can change or vary.

Front

What is a term in an expression?

Back

A term is a single mathematical expression that can be a number, a variable, or a combination of both, separated by plus or minus signs.

Front

What does it mean to simplify an expression?

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To simplify an expression means to combine like terms and reduce it to its simplest form.

Front

What are like terms?

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Like terms are terms that have the same variable raised to the same power.

Front

What is the difference between an expression and an equation?

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An expression does not have an equal sign, while an equation does.

Front

What is the purpose of using variables in algebra?

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Variables are used to represent unknown values and to create general formulas that can be applied to various situations.

Front

What is a coefficient?

Back

A coefficient is a numerical factor in a term that is multiplied by a variable.

Front

What is a constant in an expression?

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A constant is a fixed value that does not change, represented by a number without a variable.