What is algebra?
Here are two good articles summarizing what algebra is.
In Algebra, Summarized, algebra is is described as consisting of two basic tools that we use over and over again: rewriting expressions or equations into something equivalent, or doing the same thing to both sides of an equation. The rest is just using those tools to solve a variety of problems.
A related idea is that Equivalence is a Useful Concept. We use this idea in many ways, from reducing fractions to equivalent but simpler fractions, transforming an equation into a simpler equation that is equivalent to the one we started with, or factoring a quadratic equation into a product of binomials that is equivalent to what we started with.
Both articles make the point that a few powerful tools in the hands of a knowledgeable math student will allow you to do amazing things!
In Algebra, Summarized, algebra is is described as consisting of two basic tools that we use over and over again: rewriting expressions or equations into something equivalent, or doing the same thing to both sides of an equation. The rest is just using those tools to solve a variety of problems.
A related idea is that Equivalence is a Useful Concept. We use this idea in many ways, from reducing fractions to equivalent but simpler fractions, transforming an equation into a simpler equation that is equivalent to the one we started with, or factoring a quadratic equation into a product of binomials that is equivalent to what we started with.
Both articles make the point that a few powerful tools in the hands of a knowledgeable math student will allow you to do amazing things!
