Algebra Day 1

Day 1: Introduction

What do you already know about Algebra? What is it?

Vocabulary: expression vs equation, variable, constant, coefficient, terms

Equations vs Expressions

Equations

Have =

X as an unknown (has an answer we need to find)

Solve for x

-              Solve by inspection

-              Solve by showing your work

Example: 3 + x = 10

Expressions

No =

Simplify, Collect like terms

X as a changing value (can be any number)

(no answer to find)

Example: 1 + 1

3x + 2 variable, coefficient, constant

Terms as a chunk of math tied together by mult/div., separated by + or-, the sign goes with the term…so each is either positive or negative

Practice:

Level 1: 1-step equations, solve for x (by inspection)

3 + 4 = x                              3 + x = 5                              x + 6 = 8                              x – 2 = 5           

5 – x = 1                          3x = 9                                    x/2 = 10                              12/x = 4

X can be either side of the =, so be able to work with x on either side…

How many terms are there?

4 - 3 + 5 23x + 7 = 5 9 - 4 + 3x + 7x = 12x 5(x-3)/5  -  3x/2

Test next class: vocabulary + solving simple 1-step equations (by inspection)

Easy practice...