Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Introduction to Algebraic expression

Introduction  :  In arithmetic we deal with specific numbers and use the symbols 0 , 1 , 2 , 3 , 4, 5 ………………….to represent them .we use four fundamental operation  like addition , subtraction , multiplication and division  on specific numbers and obtain number expression .
Now let us take an example of the perimeter of a square is given by perimeter 4 x side. If we represent the perimeter by the letter p and the length of the side by the letter s we can write it as p =4 x s. This is the generalized formulae for the perimeter of square.
Let us understand the term Algebra.
What is Algebra?
Algebra is generalized arithmetic in which numbers are represented by letters, known as literal number or simply literals. Since literals are also numbers, they obey all the rule of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division .For example the sum of literal x and a number 5 is x+5.
Algebra  terms:
1) Letter used to represent number are called literals
2) A symbol having a fixed numerical value is called constants
3) A symbol which takes various numerical value is called a variable
4) + or – sign separate the expression into various part each part is known as term
5) In 4x we have 4 as the numerical value and x as the literal factor
6) The term having same literal facto are called like terms and  otherwise they are called as unlike terms
7) In a product of number ad  literal ,any of the factor is called the coefficient of the product of other factors
8) A term of expression having no literal factor is called a constant terms
Algebraic expression:
In algebra we come across two types of symbols namely variable and constants. A symbol having fixed numerical value is known as a constants and a symbol which takes on various numerical values is known as variable. Consider the following example
(i) The diameter d of a circle with radius r is given by d = 2r
(ii) An area (A) of  a rectangle with length l and width w is given by a = LW

What is an algebraic expression?
 Algebraic expressions Definition : A combination of constants and variables, connected by any of the symbols +, - or a combination of the symbols +, - ,*, / is called an algebraic expression.
What is an expression in algebra?
The several part of the expressions separated by the sign + or – are called the term of expression.
 Some example of algebraic expressions or algebra expression is:
(i) The expression 3x + 5y -2xyz has three terms namely 3x , 5y and -2xyz
(ii) The expression 2xyz has only one term

Various types of algebraic expressions are as follows:
(1) Monomials: An expression which contains only one term is known as monomials. example of monomials are 3x , 5xy³, -2abc  etc
(2) Binomials: An expression containing two terms is called binomial. Example of binomials are 5-y , 2x + 3y etc
(3) Trinomials : An expression containing three terms is called a trinomials thus 2+ x-y  etc are example of trinomial
(4) Polynomial:  An expression containing two or more terms is called as polynomial.

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