document.write( "Question 7321: please help me answer this. evaluate each expression: 3 to the 2 power, a + 2 for a=1 \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #4068 by glabow(165) $\"\"$ $\"About$

You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Evaluating an express means doing the math. In the first case you have
\n" ); document.write( " $\"3%5E2\"$ which means multiply 3 by itself 2 times. So you have the equivalent expression 3 x 3. Can you do this math?\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "In the second case you have a + 2 where you are using \"a\" to replace a number. You don't know what the number is, so you use a \"name\" for it. Then someone tells you that a is really 1 (a=1). So the equivalent expression is
\n" ); document.write( "1 + 2. You have replaced the name \"a\" with the value it represents (\"1\"). Can you do this math?\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Always think of unknowns in algebra as numbers. When you see x + 2 = 7 it means
\n" ); document.write( "\"Some number, that I'm calling 'x' for now since I don't know what it is, when added to 2 equals 7.\" Can you guess what number 'x' is?
\n" ); document.write( "Well, you don't have to guess. Sometimes it is very hard to guess. There are ways to figure out what 'x' is without having to guess. That's algebra! \n" ); document.write( "

\n" );