In Algebra we use letters (like x or y) or other symbols in place of unknown values.
For example: in x + 3 = 7, "x" is unknown.
We can find the value of "x" by subtracting 3 from both sides of the equal sign (=), like this:
Start with: x + 3 = 7 Subtract 3 from both sides: x + 3 - 3 = 7 - 3 Calculate: x + 0 = 4 Answer: x = 4
Algorithm
An Algorithm is a step-by-step solution to a problem.
It is like a cooking recipe for mathematics.
Example: one algorithm for adding two digit numbers is "add the units, add the tens and combine the answers"
Long Division is another example of an algorithm: if you follow the steps you get the answer.
"Algorithm" is named after the 9th century Persian mathematician Al-Khwarizmi.
Solve:
If Mario received 15% of the votes for class president. He received 45 votes. How many people voted in the election?
A six foot man casts an eight foot shadow. How tall is a tree that casts a 20 foot shadow?
Arrange in order from smallest to largest: 0, 1, 1/2, 5/12, 1/10, 9/10, 5/8
Papa Bear ate one quarter of a pie. Mama Bear ate a third of what was left. Baby Bear ate half of what was left. How much of the pie was left for Goldilocks?
Halfway through the second quarter, how much of the game is left? Write your answer as a proper fraction.
A bag contains three red marbles, four white marbles, and five blue marbles. One bag is randomly selected from the bag. What is the probability that the marble is not red? Write your answer as a proper fraction.
What is 6 1/2% of 150?
Three-fifths of a piece of cheese weighs 24 grams. How much does the whole piece weigh?