Math in Primary School used to be all about numbers, models, and units. But now, letters are invading the world of math, and they call it — algebra.
x and y invade the number world of math
What kind of monster is algebra?
Don’t be mistaken. Algebra is not a monster and it’s here to help you. They are letters used to represent missing numbers or unknowns.
Turns out, these letters are not scary at all
Here’s a simple example of how you can use algebra to find an unknown:
You grabbed a bunch of sweets at the candy store. The price tag says 50 cents each.
You paid the store owner $6 and received $1 in change. Without counting, how do you find out the number of sweets you have?
We let the letter x represent the number of sweets you bought.
Finally, solve for x.
This is the primary explanation of algebra, but it sets the foundation for what you’ll learn later on. See ya.