Vocabulary - Algebra

Algebra is a branch of mathematics that uses symbols and letters to represent numbers and quantities in formulae and equations. An expression in algebra is a combination of numbers, variables, and arithmetic operations that represents a particular value. To express in algebra means to convey mathematical ideas using these expressions. The value is the result obtained when the expressions are simplified or when numbers are substituted for variables in an expression.

A formula is a special type of expression that shows the relationship between different variables. For example, the formula for the area of a rectangle is length multiplied by width. Linear number sequences are lists of numbers that follow a specific pattern, with each number in the sequence referred to as a term. An equation, on the other hand, is a statement that two expressions are equal. Variables represent unknown values in algebra and are often denoted by letters. To solve an equation means to find the value of the variable that makes the equation true. Generalisation in algebra involves creating a statement that applies to all cases, not just specific instances. The nth term of a sequence is an expression that allows you to find any term in the sequence, while an equivalent expression is one that has the same value as another, even though it may look different.