It is not hard to learn algebra once you get used to it.The only thing you have to do is follow the order for completing parts of the equation.
Step 1: You should review your basic math operations.
Basic math skills such as adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing are what you'll need to start learning.Before you start learning math, you need this primary/elementary school math.It will be difficult to tackle the more complex concepts if you don't have these skills.If you need a primer on basic math skills, read our article.You don't need to be a great mathematician to do basic operations in your head.You can use a calculator in many algebra classes.When you aren't allowed to use a calculator, you should know how to do these operations without one.
Step 2: You should know the order of the operations.
One of the hardest things for a beginner to do is figure out where to start.In order to solve these problems, you need to first do any math operations in parentheses, then add, subtract, and divide.The order of operations acronym is a good way to remember it.The order of operations is important because doing the operations in the wrong order can affect the answer.If we add 2 to 8 first, we will get 10 5, but if we subtract 2 and 5 first we'll get 8 + 10.The second answer is correct.
Step 3: You should know how to use negative numbers.
It's a good idea to review how to add, subtract, multiply, and divide negatives before you start learning algebra.For more information, see our articles on adding and subtracting negative numbers and dividing and multiplying positive numbers.A negative version of a number is the same distance from zero as the positive, but in the opposite direction.Adding two negative numbers together makes the number more negative, since the digits will be higher, but it counts as being lower.A negative answer is given by multiplying a positive number and a negative number.
Step 4: Know how to organize problems.
More complicated problems can take many, many steps and can be difficult to solve.If you want to avoid errors, keep your work organized by starting a new line every now and then.If you're dealing with a two-sided equation, you should write all the equals signs underneath each other.It will be easier to find and correct a mistake if you do it this way.If we keep our problem in order, we can solve the equation 9/3 - 5 + 3 4.
Step 5: There are symbols that aren't numbers.
You will start to see letters and symbols in your math problems.These are called variables.Variables are just ways of showing numbers with unknown values.The letters x, y, Z, a, b, and c are just a few examples of variables.For example, pi is always equal to 3.14159.
Step 6: Variables are "unknown" numbers.
Variables are numbers with unknown values.There is a number that can be used in place of the variable to make the equation work.Think of the variable as a "mystery number" that you're trying to discover in an algebra problem.The equation 2x + 3 is our variable.The left side of the equation is equal to 11 because there's some value in the place of x.x is the number since 2 4 + 3 is 11.Replacing variables with question marks is an easy way to start understanding them.The equation 2 + 3 + x could be re-written.We just need to find out what number to add to 2 + 3 + 5 to get 9.The answer is the same.
Step 7: There are recurring variables.
The variables should be simplified if a variable appears more than once.If the same variable appears more than once, what do you do?If you combine variables that are alike, you can treat them the same way you would treat normal numbers.x + y doesn't equal 2xy.The equation 2x + 1x is 9.We can add 2x and 1x together to get 9.Since 3 x 3 is 9 we know that.You can only add the same variables together.We can't combine 2x and 1y because they are different variables.This is also true when one variable has different coefficients.We can't combine 2x and 3x because the x variables have different values.For more information, see how to add exponents.
Step 8: Try to get the variable by itself.
Finding out what the variable is is an important part of solving an equation.The equations are usually set up with numbers and variables on both sides.To figure out what the variable is, you need to figure it out on one side of the equals sign.The answer is left on the other side of the equals sign.To get x by itself on the left side of the equation, we need to remove the "+ 2".We can do this by subtracting 2 from that side and leaving us with x.To keep both sides of the equation equal, we need to subtract 2 from the other side.The number is 9 4 - 2.After the order of operations, we divide by 36 to get an answer of x.
Step 9: Adding and subtracting with the same thing.
Getting x by itself on one side of the equals sign means removing the numbers next to it.The "opposite" operation is performed on both sides of the equation.Since we see a "+3" next to our x, we'll put it on both sides of the equation.On the other side of the equals sign, the "+3" and "-3" were left by themselves.Adding and subtracting are likeopposites, do one to get rid of the other.If you want to add, subtract.Add 3 for x + 9.x - 4 is 20
Step 10: Cancel multiplication with division.
The same "opposite" relationship exists between multiplication and division and addition and subtraction.If you see a "3" on one side, you can cancel it by dividing both sides by 3.If it's more than one number, you have to do the opposite operation on the other side of the equals sign.For multiplication, divide.For division, divide 6x 14 by 2 x 14.25 x 25 is an example.
Step 11: Taking the root cancels exponents.
If you don't know how to do them, see our basic exponent article for more information.The root has the same number as the exponent.The cube root is the opposite of the square root, and so on.You take the root of both sides when dealing with an exponent.When you're dealing with a root, you take both sides of the equation.Take the root for exponents.For roots, take the exponent.x is 12 x.
Step 12: Problems can be made clearer by using pictures.
If you're having a hard time showing your equation, try using diagrams or pictures.If you have some handy, you can try using a group of physical objects.We'll subtract 2 from both sides by simply removing 2 boxes from the other side.
Step 13: Common sense checks can be used for word problems.
You can check your formula by plugging in simple values for your variable.Does your equation make sense?When is it?When x is negative?Simple mistakes are easy to make if you do a quick sanity check on your work.We're told that the football field is 30 yards longer than it is wide.The equation w + 30 is used to represent this.The equation can be tested by plugging in simple values for w.If it's 30 yards wide, it will be 30 + 30 to be 60 yards long.We would expect the field to get longer as it gets wider, so this equation is reasonable.
Step 14: It's important to know that answers won't always be in the numbers.
The answers in advanced forms of math are not always straight forward.They can be a variety of numbers.A calculator can help you find complicated answers, but keep in mind that your teacher may require you to give your answer in its exact form, not in an unwieldy decimal.Let's say we narrow down the equation to x.Since the calculator's screen is only so large, it can't display the entire answer, if we type 1250 into it.We can either represent our answer as simply 1250 or simplify it by writing it in scientific notation.
Step 15: Try to improve.
Factoring is when you're confident with basic math.Factoring is a sort of shortcut for getting complex equations into simple forms.If you're having trouble mastering factoring, you should consult the article linked above.There are a few quick tips for equations with the form ax + ba factor.There is an equation where c is the biggest number that divides into a and b evenly.The form x + bx + c factor is used to calculate the equation 3y + 12y.There is an example of x + 4x + 3.
Step 16: It's practice, practice!
It takes a lot of hard work and repetition to get to where you want to be in math.Don't worry, by paying attention in class, doing all of your assignments, and seeking out help from your teacher or other students when you need it, algebra will become second nature.
Step 17: Ask your teacher to help you understand the subject.
You don't have to learn it on your own if you're having a hard time with it.The first person you should ask questions to is your teacher.Ask your teacher for help after class.Good teachers will usually be willing to re-explain the day's topic at an after-school appointment and may even be able to give you extra practice materials.If your teacher can't help you, ask them about tutoring options at your school.Many schools offer an after-school program that can help you get the extra time and attention you need to succeed in school.You're smart enough to solve your problem if you use free help that's available to you.
Step 18: You can graph x/y equations.
Graphs allow you to display ideas that you'd usually need numbers for in easy-to- understand pictures.Graphing problems are usually limited to equations with two variables (usually x and y) and are done on a simple 2-D graph with an x axis and a y axis.Plug in a value for x and then solve for y to get two numbers that correspond to a point on the graph.If we plug in 2 for x, we get 6 in the equation.Two spaces to the right of center and six spaces above center are part of the equation's graph.Basic algebra uses equations with the form y + mx + b, where m and b are numbers.The equations always have a slope of m and cross the y axis.
Step 19: It is possible to solve inequalities.
When your equation doesn't use an equals sign, what do you do?It turns out that nothing is different than what you would normally do.For inequalities that use signs like greater than and less than, just solve as normal.The answer will either be less than or greater than your variable.We would solve the equation 3 > 5x - 2 just like we would for a normal equation.The number less than one works for x.x can be 0, -1, -2, and so on.We will always get an answer less than 3 if we plug these numbers into the equation for x.
Step 20: It's time to tackle quadratic equations.
One topic that beginners struggle with is solving equations.A, b, and c are numbers and can't be 0.The formula x is used to solve these equations.The sign indicates that you need to find the answers for adding and subtracting so you can have two answers.Let's use the formula 3x + 2x -1 to solve it.
Step 21: Use systems of equations to experiment.
It's not that hard to solve more than one equation at the same time.A graphing approach can be used to solve these problems.The solutions are the points on a graph that the lines for both equations cross at, when you're working with a system of two equations.For example, let's say we're working with a system that has equations that are 3x - 2 and x - 6.One of the lines goes up at a steep angle and the other goes down at an angle.This is a solution to the system because the lines cross at the point.If we want to check our problem, we can plug our answer into the equations in the system and see if it works.Both equations "check out," so our.