Algebra basics

Foundations

This topic isn't algebra, but it is a survey of all of the most important pre-algebra skills you need to really digest algebra. These skills also tend to be pretty important in life in general!

Algebraic expressions

The core of idea in algebra is using letters to represent relationships between numbers without specifying what those numbers are! We use letters or variables to represent the parts of the expression that may take on different values or is an unknown that we can solve for.

Linear equations and inequalities

We will now equate two algebraic expressions and think about how it might constrain what value the variables can take on. The algebraic manipulation you learn here really is the heart of algebra.

Graphing lines and slope

Use the power of algebra to understand and interpret points and lines (something we typically do in geometry). This will include slope and the equation of a line.

Systems of equations

Solving a system of equations or inequalities in two variables by elimination, substitution, and graphing.

Expressions and equations with exponents

Let's build our toolkit that allow us to manipulate exponents algebraically.

Quadratics and polynomials

We'll now progress beyond the world of purely linear expressions and equations and enter the world of quadratics (and more generally polynomials). Here we'll learn to factor expression that have powers of 2 in them and solve quadratic equations. We'll also learn to manipulate more general polynomial expressions.