Skip to main content
\(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)
Mathematics LibreTexts

Algebra

  1. Last updated
  2. Save as PDF
  • Page ID
    3225

    • \( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)

    \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)

    Algebra is a fundamental component of mathematics and differs from arithmetic in the use of abstractions, such as using letters to stand for numbers that are either unknown or allowed to take on many values. We separate fundamental basic algebra into three class of courses of increasing difficulty: Elementary or Beginning Algebra, Intermediate Algebra, and College or Advanced Algebra. The content in these courses is generally considered to be essential for any study of mathematics, science, or engineering, as well as such applications as medicine and economics. More advanced study includes Linear Algebra and Abstract Algebra.

    Thumbnail: Algebraic expression notation: 1 – power (exponent) 2 – coefficient 3 – term 4 – operator 5 – constant term x y c – variables/constants. Image used with permission (CC BY-SA 3.0 unported; Iantresman via Wikipedia).