
# Book: Elementary Algebra (OpenStax)

[ "article:topic-category", "authorname:openstax" ]

$$\newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} }$$

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

Elementary Algebra is a work text that covers the traditional topics studied in a modern elementary algebra course. It is intended for students who:

1. Have no exposure to elementary algebra,
2. Have had a previously unpleasant experience with elementary algebra, or
3. Need to review algebraic concepts and techniques.

Algebra is the study of mathematical symbols and the rules for manipulating these symbols. It is a unifying thread of almost all of mathematics. Elementary algebra is generally considered to be essential for any study of mathematics, science, or engineering, as well as such applications as medicine and economics. Elementary algebra 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.