lOMoARcPSD| 62788957
C955 Module 3: Basic Algebra
Objective Assessment Percentage: 10%
Formulas Needed:
Slope intercept form of a line:
𝑦 = 𝑦𝑦 + 𝑦
• m=slope=
• b=y-intercept=the point (0, 𝑦)
Basic tips for inequalities in one-variable:
• Flip the direction of the inequality sign when multiplying or dividing by a
negative
, lOMoARcPSD| 62788957
Module 3 Page 1
, lOMoARcPSD| 62788957
Module 3 Page 2
3.02 Algebraic Conventions & Notation
An operation is a mathematical procedure which can generate a new value.
A constant is a number with a fixed value. All real numbers are constants, including 0, 1.5, −10, and 𝑦.
A variable is a symbol that represents or holds the place of a numerical value. Often, a variable will be a letter from
the Western alphabet (a, b, c, …) or Greek alphabet (α, β, γ, …).
An exponent, sometimes called a power, is a quantity that represents repeated multiplication.
Example: 6 = 6 ∗ 6 ∗ 6
Multiplying Variables: Writing variables and numbers next to one another indicates multiplication.
𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦: 2𝑦 means 2 ∗ 𝑦. This can be read as 2 times 𝑦.
In algebra, constants often take the form of coefficients. A coefficient is a number by which a variable is being
multiplied.
A term can be many things: a single constant, such as 5, a single variable, such as 𝑦, or a term can also be any
number of constants and variables multiplied together, such as 7𝑦𝑦.
The degree of an expression is the highest power of the
variable.
Example: What is the degree of the expression 3𝑦?
An algebraic expression is a set of terms containing numbers, variables, and operations. It is standard to write
expressions in descending order of exponent value with constants at the end of the expression.
, lOMoARcPSD| 62788957
Module 3 Page 3
Exercises:
Exercise 1: Identify the number of terms and the coefficient for the 𝑦 term in the expression: −2𝑦 + 8
a.) Terms: 1; Coefficient: −2
b.) Terms: 1; Coefficient: 8
c.) Terms: 2; Coefficient: −2
d.) Terms: 2; Coefficient: 8
Exercise 2: Identify the number of terms and the degree for the 𝑦 term in the expression:
5𝑦 + 6𝑦 + 7𝑦 + 8𝑦
a.) Terms: 6; Degree: 4
b.) Terms: 4; Degree: 2
c.) Terms: 3; Degree: 3
d.) Terms: 4; Degree: 1
C955 Module 3: Basic Algebra
Objective Assessment Percentage: 10%
Formulas Needed:
Slope intercept form of a line:
𝑦 = 𝑦𝑦 + 𝑦
• m=slope=
• b=y-intercept=the point (0, 𝑦)
Basic tips for inequalities in one-variable:
• Flip the direction of the inequality sign when multiplying or dividing by a
negative
, lOMoARcPSD| 62788957
Module 3 Page 1
, lOMoARcPSD| 62788957
Module 3 Page 2
3.02 Algebraic Conventions & Notation
An operation is a mathematical procedure which can generate a new value.
A constant is a number with a fixed value. All real numbers are constants, including 0, 1.5, −10, and 𝑦.
A variable is a symbol that represents or holds the place of a numerical value. Often, a variable will be a letter from
the Western alphabet (a, b, c, …) or Greek alphabet (α, β, γ, …).
An exponent, sometimes called a power, is a quantity that represents repeated multiplication.
Example: 6 = 6 ∗ 6 ∗ 6
Multiplying Variables: Writing variables and numbers next to one another indicates multiplication.
𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦: 2𝑦 means 2 ∗ 𝑦. This can be read as 2 times 𝑦.
In algebra, constants often take the form of coefficients. A coefficient is a number by which a variable is being
multiplied.
A term can be many things: a single constant, such as 5, a single variable, such as 𝑦, or a term can also be any
number of constants and variables multiplied together, such as 7𝑦𝑦.
The degree of an expression is the highest power of the
variable.
Example: What is the degree of the expression 3𝑦?
An algebraic expression is a set of terms containing numbers, variables, and operations. It is standard to write
expressions in descending order of exponent value with constants at the end of the expression.
, lOMoARcPSD| 62788957
Module 3 Page 3
Exercises:
Exercise 1: Identify the number of terms and the coefficient for the 𝑦 term in the expression: −2𝑦 + 8
a.) Terms: 1; Coefficient: −2
b.) Terms: 1; Coefficient: 8
c.) Terms: 2; Coefficient: −2
d.) Terms: 2; Coefficient: 8
Exercise 2: Identify the number of terms and the degree for the 𝑦 term in the expression:
5𝑦 + 6𝑦 + 7𝑦 + 8𝑦
a.) Terms: 6; Degree: 4
b.) Terms: 4; Degree: 2
c.) Terms: 3; Degree: 3
d.) Terms: 4; Degree: 1
