Algebra : Addition & Subtraction
This course introduces the basics of algebra, including what algebra is and how it is used to represent unknowns. Students will learn how to identify single algebraic terms, recognise “like” terms, and add and subtract “like” terms with confidence.
Related Lessons:
Basic Algebra Representation
An algebraic term consists of three key parts: the sign (+/-), the coefficient (number), and the algebra (variable). For example, for the algebraic term \(-4ac\),
- Sign is \(-\)
- Coefficient is \(4\)
- Algebra is \(abc\)
Identifying A Single Algebra term
An algebra term is bounded between a “+” or a “-” sign. For example, for the term \(3xz-2xyz+5xz\), we are a total of 3 algebraic terms.
Identifying “Like” Terms
To decide whether two terms are “like” terms, ignore the sign and the coefficient and focus only on the algebraic part. If the variables are the same, even if they are written in a different order, the terms are considered like terms.
For example, \(3ab\), \(4ba\) and \(ab12\) are “like” terms since all the three terms have the algebraic term \(“ab”\).
Add & Subtract "Like" Terms
To determine whether algebraic terms can be added or subtracted, we must first identify whether they are “like” terms. Once we identify the “like” terms, we can combine the coefficient through addition or subtraction. The steps are:
- Identify all the “like” terms
- Focus on the coefficient only, and perform addition or subtraction
- Once we obtain the numeric value, we will insert the “like” algebraic term
For example:
\(3ab+4ba+ab12=19ab\)
Watch Full Concept Breakdown
Addition and subtraction of algebraic expressions are fundamental skills that every student must master. The video below provides a comprehensive explanation of the concepts covered above — starting from understanding what algebra is and progressing to identifying and combining “like” terms.