Unit 2 Solving Equations - Discovering Algebra 2.7, 2.8, & 3.6

order of operations

The order in which operations are carried out when evaluating: 1) grouping symbols, 2) all powers, 3) multiply and divide in order from left to right, and 4) add and subtract in order from left to right

evaluate

To find the value of an expression. If the expression contains variables, values must be substituted for the variable.

base

a number or variable that is raised to a power

exponent

a number that indicates how many times the base must be multiplied by itself

coefficient

a number that is multiplied by a variable

equation

a statement that says the value of one number or algebraic expression is equal to the value of another number of algebraic expression

algebraic expression

a symbolic representation of mathematical operations that can involve both numbers and variables

like terms

terms in which the variable and the exponent are the same. (The coefficients can be different.)

additive inverse

the opposite of a number

solving an equation

to determine the value of the variable that makes the equation true

solve by graphing

to solve an equation by graphing each side of an algebraic equation and using the point of intersection to determine the solution

balancing method

to solve an equation by performing the same operation on both sides until the variable is isolated on one side

undoing method

to solve an equation by working backward to reverse each operation until the variable is isolated