Intro To AlgebraBy: Carolyn Barone

The first step to understanding algebra is knowing which operations cancel each other out.

Opposite Signs

The opposite of

multiplication

is division.

The opposite of

subtraction

is addition.

Step 2 in learning algebra is knowing how to combine like terms. This means, if two or more terms are of the same type, we can combine them to make only one term of each type.

For now, we’re only going to look at 2 types:

Combining Like Terms

In order to solve algebraic equations, we first combine like terms, and then solve for x by using opposite signs. If we perform an operation to one side of the equation, we must perform the same operation to the other side.

Solving Algebraic Equations

1) Combine these like terms

2) Add 8 (opposite of subtracting 8)

3) Divide by 6 (opposite of multiplying by 6)

Notice our ending goal is to get x by itself.

Now you try…

A. Subtraction

B. Multiplication

C. Addition

What is the opposite of division?

Next question

Correct!

Oops! Wrong answer…

Try again…

A. Divide by 7

B. Subtract 5

C. Combine like terms

D. Add 5

What is the first step in solving the given algebraic equation?

Next question

Correct!

Oops! Wrong answer…

Try again…

A. Subtract 5

B. Add 5

C. Divide by 3

D. Subtract 3x

What would the next step be?

Next question

Correct!

Oops! Wrong answer…

Try again…

A. 3

B. 9

C. x=3

D. x=9

What is the answer to this algebraic equation?

Correct!

That’s Algebra!

Oops! Wrong answer…

Try again…