Algebraic Notation
What is algebra?
● Algebra is a topic in mathematics that uses letters to represent general (or unknown)
numbers
○ x and y are two unknown numbers
■ More information is needed to find their values
● Letters are also called variables
How do I write calculations in algebra?
● Writing mathematical ideas in letters is called using algebraic notation
● You can use + and – to mean add and subtract
○ a + b
c+d–e
● However no symbol is used for multiplication
○ ab (means a × b)
3ab (means 3 × a × b)
● Fractions are used for division
○
(means a ÷ b)
● You can combine the ideas above
○
(means a×b + c÷3)
○ The order of operations for numbers still works
■ work out a×b and c÷d before adding them together
● Powers (indices) and roots are the same as with numbers
○ a2 means a × a
4a2 means 4 × a2
■ With the order of operations, a2 happens before multiplying by 4
○
means the square root of
● Brackets work in the same way as they do with numbers
○
means
■ Add the a and b first, then multiply the result by 3
Worked Example
Raheem is playing a game and starts with q points.
He then earns a further 6 points.
(a) Use algebra to write down the total number of points that Raheem has.
Raheem has q + 6 points
The game then decides to doubles his total number of points.
(b) Use algebra to write down the number of points that Raheem now has.
Raheem has 2(q + 6) points
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