Module 1 (M1) - Algebra - Terminology

An algebraic expression is made up of two or more terms.

For example, \(3a² -7b - c+ 6\) is an expression.

It is made with 4 terms: \(3a²\), \(-7b \), \(-c \) and \(+6 \)

A formula is a rule which is expressed algebraically. Formulas are used to find one quantity, given one or more other quantities.

For example, \(A = ½ b \times h\) is the formula, or rule, for finding the area of a triangle: area equals half base times height.

We can use this formula to find the area of any triangle if we know the base and the height.

An equation is a statement showing that two expressions are equal. Often equations can be ‘solved’ by finding values which make the statement true.

For example, the equation \(2x + 3 = 11\) is true when \(x = 4\), because both sides of the equation are equal to 11.

Remember that equations and formulas have an ‘=’ symbol but expressions do not.

In algebra, just as in number, the symbols, <, >, ≤ and ≥ can be used in a mathematical statement.

They are used to show when a term or expression is greater or less than another term or expression.

Examples:

\(5x + 7 < 19\) 5x + 7 is less than 19
\(2m ≤ 5q\) 2m is less than or equal to 5q
\(10t – 4 > 15 – t\) 10t – 4 is greater than 15 – t
\(0 ≥ 4p – 16\) zero is greater than or equal to 4p – 16