What makes algebra hard

The "opposite" of an exponent is the root that has the same number as it. On the other hand, you take the exponent of both sides when you're dealing with a root. See below: For exponents, take the root.

Part 4. Use pictures to make problems clearer. If you're having a hard time visualizing an algebra problem, try using diagrams or pictures to illustrate your equation. You can even try using a group of physical objects like blocks or coins instead if you have some handy.

Use "common sense checks" especially for word problems. When converting a word problem into algebra, try to check your formula by plugging in simple values for your variable. For example, let's say we're told that a football field is 30 yards We can test whether this equation makes sense by plugging in simple values for w.

If it's 30 yards This makes sense — we'd expect the field to get longer as it gets wider, so this equation is reasonable. Be aware that answers won't always be integers in algebra. Answers in algebra and other advanced forms of math aren't always round, easy numbers. They can often be decimals, fractions, or irrational numbers. A calculator can help you find these complicated answers, but keep in mind that your teacher may require you to give your answer in its exact form, not in an unwieldy decimal.

If we type 7 into a calculator, we'll get a huge string of decimals plus, since the calculator's screen is only so large, it can't display the entire answer. In this case, we may want to represent our answer as simply 7 or else simplify the answer by writing it in scientific notation. Try expanding your skill. When you're confident with basic algebra, try factoring. One of the trickiest algebra skills of all is factoring — a sort of shortcut for getting complex equations into simple forms.

Factoring is a semi-advanced algebra topic, so consider consulting the article linked above if you're having trouble mastering it. Practice, practice, practice! Progress in algebra and any other kind of math requires lots of hard work and repetition.

Don't worry — by paying attention in class, doing all of your assignments, and seeking out help from your teacher or other students when you need it, algebra will begin to become second nature.

Ask your teacher to help you understand tricky algebra topics. If you're having a hard time getting the hang of algebra, don't worry — you don't have to learn it on your own.

Your teacher is the first person you should turn to with questions. After class, politely ask your teacher for help. Good teachers will usually be willing to re-explain the day's topic at an after-school appointment and may even be able to give you extra practice materials. If, for some reason, your teacher can't help you, try asking them about tutoring options at your school.

Many schools will have some sort of after-school program that can help you get the extra time and attention you need to start excelling at your algebra. Remember, using free help that's available to you isn't something to be embarrassed about — it's a sign that you're smart enough to solve your problem!

Part 5. Graphs can be valuable tools in algebra because they allow you to display ideas that you'd usually need numbers for in easy-to-understand pictures. With these equations, all you need to do is plug in a value for x, then solve for y or do the reverse to get two numbers that correspond to a point on the graph. This means that the point 2,6 two spaces to the right of center and six spaces above center is part of this equation's graph.

Learn to solve inequalities. What do you do when your equation doesn't use an equals sign? Nothing much different than what you'd normally do, it turns out. You'll be left with an answer that's either less than or greater than your variable. This means that every number less than one works for x. In other words, x can be 0, -1, -2, and so on.

If we plug these numbers into the equation for x, we'll always get an answer less than 3. Tackle quadratic equations. One algebra topic that many beginners struggle with is solving quadratic equations. Experiment with systems of equations. Solving more than one equation at once may sound super-tricky, but when you're working with simple algebra equations, it's not actually that hard.

Often, algebra teachers use a graphing approach for solving these problems. When you're working with a system of two equations, the solutions are the points on a graph that the lines for both equations cross at. If we draw these two lines on a graph, we get one line that goes up at a steep angle, and one that goes down at a mild angle.

Since these lines cross at the point -1,-5 , this is a solution to the system. Daron Cam Academic Tutor. Daron Cam. Basic math skills you learned in elementary or primary school are the fundamentals of algebra. This includes concepts like adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing. Not Helpful 1 Helpful 7. Subtract 13 from both sides to get x by itself. Not Helpful 19 Helpful No, because the first equation asks for addition and the second equation asks for multiplication.

Not Helpful 28 Helpful Algebra is a good tool for solving mathematical puzzles and situations that may arise in real life. Think about how you could apply it to your daily life. Not Helpful 18 Helpful Isolate the variable on one side of the equation and the constant on the other side. In this example, subtract 3x from both sides, leaving no x on the left side and 3x on the right side. Then add 7 to both sides, leaving no constant on the right side and 11 on the left side.

Then divide both sides by the remaining coefficient of the variable. Not Helpful 26 Helpful Is x the exponent or the base?

To the student, algebra is an entirely new concept. It represents their first foray away from mainstream Mathematics.

It is their first departure from arithmetic. Not surprisingly, there has been considerable resistance by students when it comes to learning algebra. In these casual, preliminary assessment of attitudes towards algebra, we see a skew towards dismissing algebra for its lack of real-world applications.

There are, however, more latent and intrinsic problems in the study of algebra. Teachers across the country, and abroad, have reported students from primary to secondary school or throughout grade school with difficulties in grasping the fundamentals of algebra. As the majority of people already know, it is one of the parts of mathematics, a branch that is studying and is dealing with symbols that represent variables, which are quantities with no fixed values or in other words — unknown quantities.

Other than that, number theory, analysis and geometry are connected to algebra problem solving which makes one of the oldest math branches so complex. It includes a variety of problem-solving, from elementary equations to the abstractions.

Algebra itself is divided into different levels and sub-branches such as elementary, advanced, abstract and linear. Caddell Prep is a great resource for Algebra help.

In algebra, everything is logical and analytical reasoning about numbers is quite different from quantitative reasoning with numbers. The problem occurs when students who had previously learnt to solve problems by arithmetical thinking try to learn algebra the same way. Instead of memorising how things work through automatically learned processes such as dividing, multiplying, adding etc. So the question of why should be more important than how. Understanding new math concepts combined with positivity and consistency is what has been shown to give the best results.

The amount of previously learnt math basics and the retained knowledge that can be applied and combined with algebra is essential for understanding the next levels of mathematics. The transition to algebra should be seamless and successful so quite often, students will need encouragement and some extra time working on building the foundation for algebra.

Learning gaps can make the process more difficult, and cramming only makes it worse.