ALGEBRA 1: FOUNDATIONS FOR ALGEBRA

Reciprocal

Given a nonzero rational number a/b, the reciprocal, or multiplicative inverse, is b/a. The product of a nonzero numbers and its reciprocal is 1.

Evaluate

To substitute a given number for each variable, and then simplify.

Simplify

To write and expression in its simplest form.

Integers

Whole numbers and their opposites.

Numerical expression

A mathematical phrase involving numbers and operation symbols, but no variables.

Algebraic expression

A mathematical phrase that includes one or more variables.

Inequality

A mathematical sentence that compares the values of two expressions using an inequality symbol.

Equation

A mathematical sentence that uses an equal sign.

Square root

A number of such that a2=b. square root of b is the principle square root. -square root of b is the negative square root.

Base

A number that is multiplied repeatedly.

Exponent

A number that shows repeated multiplication.

Term

A number, variable, or the product or quotient of a number and one or more variables.

Power

A power has two parts, a base and an exponent.

Variable

A symbol, usually a letter, that represents one or more numbers.

Constant

A term that has no variable factor.

Equivalent expressions

Algebraic expressions that have the same value for all values of the variable(s).

Radical

An expression made up of a radical symbol and a radicand.

Distributive property

For every real number a, b, and c: a(b + c) = ab + ac (b + c)a = ba + ca a(b - c) = ab - ac (b - c)a = ba - ca

Perfect squares

Numbers whose square roots are integers.

Like terms

Terms with exactly the same variable factors in a variable expression.

Coefficient

The numerical factor when a term has a variable.

Additive Inverse

The opposite of either addition or subtraction

Multiplicative Inverse

The opposite of either multiplication or division

Inverse

opposite