document.write( "Question 687232: I have no clue how algebra works... Help! \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #425091 by josmiceli(19441) $\"\"$ $\"About$

You can put this solution on YOUR website!
You have learned about the basic operations on
\n" ); document.write( "numbers like addition, subtraction, multiplication,
\n" ); document.write( "and divisions,.
\n" ); document.write( "All algebra does is apply these operations to
\n" ); document.write( "symbols like $\"+x+\"$ and $\"+y+\"$ which stand for
\n" ); document.write( "numbers, but which number is usually unknown.
\n" ); document.write( "If I say $\"+x+=+3+\"$ , then every time I see $\"+x+\"$ ,
\n" ); document.write( "I can replace it with $\"+3+\"$ .
\n" ); document.write( "-----------------------
\n" ); document.write( "The other thing to understand is the \" = \" sign
\n" ); document.write( "Think of the \" = \" sign as a balance point, and if you do
\n" ); document.write( "something to one side, you have to do the exact same thing
\n" ); document.write( "to the other side.
\n" ); document.write( "For instance, I said
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+x+=+3+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "If that's true, I can say
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+x+=+2+%2B+1+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "What if I subtract $\"+1+\"$ from the right side?
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+x+=+2+%2B+1+-+1+\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+x+=+2+\"$ But I don't want $\"+x+\"$ to change, so what
\n" ); document.write( "should I do ? I have to subtract $\"+1+\"$ from BOTH sides
\n" ); document.write( "like this:
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+x+-+1+=+2+%2B+1+-+1+\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+x+-+1+=+2+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "Is this OK ? I'll find out by replacing $\"+x+\"$ with $\"+3+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "because I know I can.
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+3+-+1+=+2+\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+2+=+2+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "I'm still OK
\n" ); document.write( "This is the very basics of algebra
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