In this lesson, you'll learn some important new vocabulary but commonly used words in algebra.
1.Constant - It refers to an object or symbol that does not change its value in a particular problem or
discussion.
Examples: e = 2.7182818284590..., -3, , 0,
2.Variable - It refers to an object or symbol that changes its value in a particular problem or discussion.
Examples: x, y, z, σ, μ, ρ
3.Algebraic Expression - It refers to any combinations of constants and variables involving the
fundamental operations in algebra which when taken as a whole represents a number.
Examples: x, 2x3y5, x2+ 2x + 3, m/n ,
In the expression 3x – 2y + 5z – 1, which symbols are preceded by plus sign? Which are preceded by
minus sign?
4.Term - It refers to the part of an algebraic expression separated by a plus (+) or minus (-) sign.
Examples:
The expression 5x – 3y + 4 has three terms namely 5x, -3y and 4.
The expression a2 – b2 has two terms namely a2and – b2
A term may contain a constant and variables, or just a constant. Each symbol is referred to as
a coefficient.
5.Coefficient -In general when two or more symbols are multiplied together to form a product, then
each symbol is called a coefficient.
Examples:
In 3y, the coefficient of 3 is y
In x3y2, the coefficient of x3 is y2
In -2b2, the coefficient of -2 is b2
A term has coefficients that are constant and variables.
6.Numerical Coefficient - The constant multiplicative factor attached to the variables in a term.
7.Literal Coefficient - The variable multiplicative factor (including its exponent) attached to the constant
in a term.
Examples:
In 3y, the literal coefficient is y while the numerical coefficient is 3.
In x3y2, the literal coefficient is x2y5 while the numerical coefficient is understood to be 1.
What is common in each of the terms of the expression ?
8.Similar Terms and Dissimilar Terms -Terms that have the identical literal coefficients are called similar
terms; otherwise they are called dissimilar terms.
Examples:
Similar terms: x3y, -2x3y, 0.5x3y (common literal coefficient is x3y)
Dissimilar terms: -abc, a3b, ab2c
9.Monomial - Algebraic expression consisting of only one term
Examples: 2xy, 3b, -mn, x4y4, xyz
10.Binomial - Algebraic expression which consist of only two terms
Examples: 6a2b3– 3a4b5, 11x – 2, 4a + 3b, 7–d
11.Trinomial - Algebraic expression which consist of three terms
Examples: 3x² + xy + y², x – 5y – z, a - 4b –c
12.Multinomial - Algebraic expression, which consist of more than three terms
Examples: a2 + b2 + c2 – 2ab – 2bc – 2ac , xy4 + 2xy – 3x2y3 + 4x4y2
13.Polynomial -An algebraic expression containing terms have variables which are raised to whole-
number exponents (or else the terms are just plain numbers); there are no square roots of variables, no
fractional powers, and no variables in the denominator of any fractions.
The following algebraic expressions are polynomials.
xy, 9a8b4 – 4a4b6, 21x – 4, 5a + 3b,
The following are not polynomials. Why?
2q-3is not a polynomial because the exponent of its first term is a negative integer
is not a polynomial because there is a variable in the denominator
is not a polynomial because there is a variable a radical sign
14.The degree of a term in one variable refers to the exponent of the variable.
Examples:
In the expression x3 + x2 + x
the degree of the first term x3 is 3
the degree of the second term x2 is 2
the degree of the third term x is 1
15.The degree of a term in more than one variable is the sum of the exponentsof the variables in
the term.
Example:
In the expression 3x3y4z5 – 3x2y3z
the degree of 5x3y4z5 is 12
the degree of3x2y3z is 6
16.The degree of a polynomial is the degree of its term with the highest degree.
Example:
In the expression 3x3y4z5 - 3x2y3z,
the degree of the term 3x3y4z5 is 12
the degree of the term 3x2y3z is 6
Thus, the degree of the expression is 12
Commutative Properties of Addition and Multiplication
The Commutative Property, in general, states that changing the ORDER of two numbers either
being added or multiplied does NOT change the value of it. Thus, for any real number a and b, we can
say that
a) a + b = b + a ( commutative property of addition)
b) ab = ba ( commutative property of multiplication)
Examples:
Using the commutative property of addition we get:
10+ 5 = 5 + 10 and 3.2 + 4 = 4 + 3.2
Using the commutative property of multiplication we get:
8 ∙ 3 = 3 ∙ 8 and m∙n=n∙m
Take Note That…
Commutative properties do not hold for subtraction or division.
Illustrations: 5 – 3 = 2 but 3 – 5 = -2
10 ÷ 2 = 5 but 5 ÷ 8 = 0.625
Associative Properties of Addition and Multiplication
The Associative Property, in general, states that changing the GROUPING of numbers that are
either being added or multiplied does NOT change its value. Thus, for any real numbers a, b and c, the
following statements are true:
(a + b) + c = a + ( b + c) (associative property for addition)
a(bc) = (ab)c (associative property for multiplication)
Examples:
Using the associative property of addition we get:
8 + (5 + 6) = (5 + 6) + 8 and (2a + 5b) + 7c = 2a + (5b + 7c)
Using the associative property of multiplication we get:
8(5 ∙ 6) = (5 ∙ 6) 8 and (1.5x) y = 1.5 (xy)
Take Note That…
The associative properties do not hold for subtraction or division.
Illustrations:
(6 – 4) – 2= 2 – 2= 0 but 6– (4 – 2) = 6 – 2 = 4
(8 ÷ 4) ÷ 2 = 2 ÷ 2 = 1 but 8 ÷ (4 ÷ 2) =8 ÷ 2 = 4
Distributive Property of Multiplication over Addition.
The Distributive Property of Multiplication over Addition states that the sum of two or more
numbers when multiplied to another number is equal to multiplying each separately then adding the
products. Thus, for any real numbers a, b and c the following statement is true:
a ( b + c ) = ab + ac
Examples:
6(2 + 3) = 6(5) = 30 has the same answer as 6(2) + 6(3) = 12 + 18 = 30
4(x+ y) has the same answer as 4x + 4y
Identity Properties
Addition of 0 to a number does not change the number. Zero (0) is called the additive identity
because adding this number doesn't change a number's identity.
Illustrations:
4+ 0 = 4 18 + 0 = 18 0 + 205 = 205 0 + 33.8 = 33.8
Multiplication of a number by 1 does not change the number. One (1) is called the multiplicative
identity because multiplying by this number doesn’t change a number’s identity.
Illustrations:
5• 1 = 5 8• 1 = 8 1 • 13.2 = 13.2 1 • 7.1 = 7.1
Identity Property of Addition: For any real number a, a+0=0+a=a
Identity Property for Multiplication: For any real number a, a·0=0·a=a
Inverse Properties
A number added to its opposite integer will always equal zero. See the following examples.
2 + (-2) = 0 -3 + 3 = 0
Multiplying a number by its inverse equals 1. See the following examples below.
Inverse Property of Addition. For any real number a, there is a unique number –a such that a + (-a) = -a +
a = 0.
Examples:
The additive inverse of -3 is 3, since -3 + 3 = 0
The additive inverse of 1/5 is -1/5 ,since 1/5 + (-1/5) =0
Inverse Property of Multiplication. For any nonzero real number a, there is a unique number 1/a, such
that
Examples: The multiplicative inverse of -3 is -1/3 since -3(-1/3) =1
The multiplicative inverse of 1/5 is 5 , since 5(1/5) =1
