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Algebraic Terms


Here are vocabulary terms used in algebra that are important to learn.

Term: An algebraic term is either a number or a number multiplied by one or more variables.

52x2 - 9x + 36 = 7m + 82     Each green item is a separate term.
Expression: An algebraic expression is made up of one or more algebraic terms. Expressions do not have equal signs.
52x2 - 9x + 36 = 7m + 82     Each blue item is a separate expression.
Coefficient: A coefficient is the number part of a term with variables.
52x2 - 9x + 36 = 7m + 82     Each red item is a separate coefficient.
Variable: In algebra, letters represent variables.
52x2 - 9x + 36 = 7m + 82     Each grey item is a separate variable.
Constant: Terms with no variables are called constants. They are constants because their value is constant - it never changes.
52x2 - 9x + 36 = 7m + 82     Each purple item is a separate constant.
Equation: An equation is a statement that two expressions are equal. An equation always has an equals sign ( = ).
52x2 - 9x + 36 = 7m + 82     3 + 5y = 8    Examples of equations
Inequality: An inequality compares two expressions. Instead of using an equals sign ( = ) like in an equation, an inequality uses one of the following inequality signs:
> greater than
< less than
≥ greater than or equal to
≤ less than or equal to

h - 33 > 25t     a ≤ 99     Examples of inequalities

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