Elementary algebra

High school (ages 12+)
Mathematics & Numbers

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/elementary-algebra

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is elementary algebra and why is it called a secret code of numbers?Elementary algebra is the part of math where we use letters like x, y, and z to stand in for unknown numbers. It lets us write and solve puzzles that would be hard to do with just numbers.
2. Who invented elementary algebra and what did they call it?The Persian scholar Muḥammad ibn Musa al‑Khwarizmi wrote a book in the 9th century that organized algebra. He called the main idea “al‑jabr,” meaning putting broken pieces back together.

Variable: A symbol, typically a letter, representing an unknown or arbitrary quantity in mathematical expressions and equations.
Equation: A mathematical statement asserting the equality of two expressions, characterized by the presence of an equals sign (=).
Expression: A combination of numbers, variables, and mathematical operations that represents a mathematical value, but does not contain an equals sign.
Coefficient: A numerical factor that multiplies a variable in an algebraic term, such as the '3' in '3x'.