Introduction to Algebra

What is Introduction to Algebra?

The use of letters to stand for numbers, so that a relationship can be written down before the numbers are known. A letter may act as a specific unknown to be found, as a variable that ranges over many values, or as a generalised number in a rule true for all values. Substituting a number for a letter replaces the letter everywhere it appears, and a negative value must be enclosed in brackets so that powers and signs act on the whole value.

This definition is part of the Algebra and Graphs chapter in Cambridge O Level Mathematics (Syllabus D).

Concepts related to Introduction to Algebra

• unknown
• variable
• generalised number
• substitution
• constructing expressions