Algebra Flashcards
What is a variable
A letter that can represent any number
Sum
is the answer when you add (e.g. sum of a and b is a+b)
Difference
is the answer when you subtract (e.g. the difference of a and b is a-b)
Product
is the answer when you multiply (e.g. a x b is written ab, product of a and b is a x b)
Quotient
is the answer when you divide (a ÷ b is written a/b)
Double
means to multiply by 2
Halve
means to divide by 2 or multiple by 1/2 or 0.5
Triple
means to multiple by 3
Square
is a number multiplied by itself (e.g. square 7 is 7 x 7 = 49)
Why are letters and number helpful in math?
- Faster way to describe a situation than using words
- Expression that applies to any situation
Alegbra Tiles:
- What colour do you use for positive numbers and negative numbers
- positive terms – shaded
- negative terms – not-shaded
Algebra Tiles – using letters – what is the one rule to remember
Do not use the same letter to represent two different shapes
Coefficient
a number in front of a variable that does not change
Variable
An unknown quantity represented by a letter
Term
A product of letters and/or numbers including single variables or constant
Binominal
An expression with two terms
Monomial
an expression with one term
Constant
a number on its own that does not change (no letter attached)
Trinominal
An expression with three terms
Coefficient
A number in front of a variable that does not change
Polynominal
Expression made up of one or more terms – exceptions: variable demonimator, variable under root sign, negative exponents – not polynominals
Degree of a term
Total number of letters in a term
For a term with one variable, the degree is the variable’s exponent. With more than one variable, the degree is the sum of the exponents of the variables.
Degree of a polynomial
Largest degree overall within the polynomial
Does 4(a + b) could as one term or two?
One
What are equivalent polynomials
Polynomials that have the same terms but in a different order
What is a like term
same variables and the same exponents
What is an unlike terms
different variables and difference exponents
What are zero pairs
Pairs when like algebra tiles or like terms cancel out
What are equivalent polynomials
Polynomials that have the same terms, but in a different order
How do you multiply polynomials?
Multiply the coefficients and then multiply variables using exponents laws (add the exponents together)
How do you divide polynomials?
Divide the coeffcients and then use exponent laws on variables (subtract the exponents of same variables)
What is important to pay attention to when adding or subtracting polynomials?
Pay very close attention to the signs – (a positive and a negative = negative; and positive and positive = positive; negative and a positive = negative)
And pay close attention to the variables – make sure you are combining the same variables (have the same letters and degrees)
