The Algebraic Expression
Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division
and Extraction of Roots are called the Fundamentals operation of Algebra .
When numbers and letters (standing for numbers) are combined by applying one or more of the fundamentals operation of algebra, the result is called an Algebraic Expression.
An Algebraic Expression may consists of plus(+) and or minus (-) sign as well as numbers and letters repressenting numbers. Each of the parts with the sign preceedin it is called a term.
A term refers to the part of an Algebraic Expression separated by a plus(+) or minus (-) sign. Ex: 6x4 + 8x3 + 7x2 + 4
6x4 - is a term
8x3 - is a term
7x2 - is a term
2x - is a term and
4 - is also a term
When Expression has only one term, it is referred to as monomial, has two terms, called binomial , has three terms called trinomials consists of two or more terms called multinomials and all of these are called polynomials
Ex:
6x4 + 8x3 + 7x2 + 4 - m ultinomials
5x2y6 + 12xy - binomials
3s4t – 7s2t3 + 3s2t - t rinomials
-4x2 – 7a2b - b inomials
17x2y3 - m onomial
The letters in an
Algebraic Expression are called variables (or literal numbers) each of two or more number is multiplied together to form a product is called a
factor. product 5xy, 5 x and y are the
factors. numerical factor 5 maybe
called the coeffficient of the variable factors. generally, any factor or factors of the product maybe regarded as the cofficient of the other factor.
Thus, in
5xy
5x is the cofficient of y
x is the cofficient of 5y, and so on.
Two terms of an Algebraic Expression that are
identical or that differ only in their numerical coefficient are
called like or unlike terms
Thus,
3x2y and 2x2y - like terms
2y2 and 2y - unlike terms
This explanation made algebra in easy way, because of its simplicity...hope this will help the student to be more familiar and encourage to solve algebra.