Algebra. Nightmare
for many.
Algebra is used to solve many real life problems.
First, some basics.
Let’s say you, Xavier have $5 in your pocket. You can write this as
an EQUATION as follows.
Money = 5 or X = 5.
It simply means X has the value of 5.
Now your elder brother, Yong has $8 MORE than you.
So we can write Y = X + 8.
To find the amount of money he has, put 5 instead of x (we
call this as SUBSTITUTE).
5 + 8 = 13.
So your brother has $13
And your younger sister, Zoe has $2 LESS than you, so we can
write Z = X – 2 = 5 – 2 = 3
So as an EXPRESSION, what is the total amount of money all
three of you have?
It is X + Y + Z
= X + X + 8 + X – 2
= 3X + 6
So 3X + 6 is the total amount of money in TERMS OF X.
But how much is that?
3X + 6
= 3(5) + 6
= 15 + 6
= 21
Now let us check whether this is correct.
You have $5.
Your elder brother has $13
Your younger sister has $3
So the total is 5 + 13 + 3 = $21
