Lesson TERMINOLOGY OF ALGEBRAIC AND ARITHMETIC OPERATIONS

This Lesson (TERMINOLOGY OF ALGEBRAIC AND ARITHMETIC OPERATIONS) was created by by Theo(13342)

This lesson deals with describing your problems in the generally accepted fashion of algebra.com so that it is clear what your equations are supposed to represent.

TERMINOLOGY

Multiplication is shown as x*y where x is multiplied by y.
Example:
x = 5
y = 3
5*3 = 15

Division is shown as x / y where x is divided by y.
Example:
x = 15
y = 5
x/y = 3

Powers are shown as x^y where x is raised to the power of y.
To enter the ^ you hold down the shift key and hit the number 6 key. This is normally described as shift 6.

Example:
x = 2
y = 3
2^3 = 8
This means that 2 raised to the 3d power = 8.
This also means that 2 cubed = 8.
This also means that 2 raised to the power of 3 = 8.

Roots are shown as root(x,y) where y is taken to the root of x.
Example:
x = 3
y = 8
root(3,8) = 2
This means that 8 taken to the root of 3 is equal to 2.
This also means that the cube root of 8 equals 2.
This also means that the 3d root of 8 equals 2.

Square roots are shown as sqrt(x) where x is taken to the root of 2.
Example:
x = 16
sqrt(16) = 4
This means that the square root of 16 is equal to 4.
This also means that 16 taken to the root of 2 equals 4.
This also means that the 2d root of 16 equals 4.
Note that sqrt(x) is simply a special form of root(2,x).
They mean the same thing.

Parentheses are very important to show the order of the calculations to be performed if it is going to be other than the natural order of calculations.
Example:
x^2/x + 6 would indicate the following order of operations to be performed.
x^2 is divided by x and then 6 is added to it.

x^2/(x+6) would indicate the following order of operations to be performed.
x^2 is divided by (x+6)
The use of the parentheses makes all the difference in the world.

More information on algebraic and arithmetic operations can be found in the lessons on:

RULES OF ALGEBRAIC AND ARITHMETIC OPERATIONS
ORDER OF ALGEBRAIC AND ARITHMETIC OPERATIONS

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