The Variable Machine

Write your name in the

form of numbers.

1
 The Variable Machine
What is the total value
of your first name?

What is the total value of your surname?

What do you notice about the number of

letters in each words?

2
 Question to Ponder!
What is a variable?

How did you use your variable machine

to determine the value of your first
name?
Is it possible to change the values of each
letter in a variable machine, or are they
always the same value?

3
The value of the letter can vary!

4
Language
of
Algebra
 Algebra!
Trivia:
From the 825 A.D. book, “ilm al-jabr w’al
Maqa balah” (translated “ The Science of
Cancellation and Reduction) by the great
Arabian Mathematician Mohammed Ibn
Musa Khowarizimi. After years of bad
pronunciation by Europeans, it came down
as “aljabra” and, eventually, “algebra”.
Language uses symbols and words
The Cool Language of Algebra…

…also uses symbols and words!

 The Cool Language of Algebra!

𝑨𝒍𝒈𝒆𝒃𝒓𝒂 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒖𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒐𝒇

Variables, such as a, b, c, n, x, y, z

𝑨𝒍𝒈𝒆𝒃𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒄 𝑬𝒙𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒖𝒍𝒕

of 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒃𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒏𝒖𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒗𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆𝒔
with ordinary operations of arithmetic.
The Cool Language of Algebra!

Algebra
Solves real
Problems…

…using variables!
 The Cool Language of Algebra!

𝒙 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 …

• the height of an avatar
• time in seconds
• the depth of a pool
• my maths mark
 The Cool Language of Algebra!

𝒙 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈!

 The Cool Language of Algebra!

𝟕𝒙
"7 times x" can be written as;
x+x+x+x+x+x+x
and can be read as
“seven x’s”
Where did the idea of x come from?
Understanding x as buried treasure
 Finding x is for your future!
“In algebra (as in real life), x can be anything: 12, -47,
a billion—the sky’s the limit… But can you imagine if,
when we solved for x, we started by stereotyping it,
shutting out a whole range of possible solutions? Like,
“Hmm, I just don’t think x could be a very big number;
I mean look, it’s so little.”

I know it sounds crazy, but this happens all the time

in life. The x you’re solving for is your future, and it,
too, can be anything.”

extract from Algebra Exposed by Danica McKellar

Stop Making Mistakes!!!

3𝑥 − 2𝑦 + 7
Name parts of an Algebraic Expression

𝟑𝒙 − 𝟐𝒚 + 𝟕
Name parts of an Algebraic Expression

Term

𝟑𝒙 − 𝟐𝒚 + 𝟕
Name parts of an Algebraic Expression

Terms

3𝑥 − 2𝑦 + 7
Algebraic Terms
= either a single number, a letter, or a product of
several numbers or letters separated by an
operation
Name parts of an Algebraic Expression

Variables or Pronumerals

𝟑𝒙 − 𝟐𝒚 + 𝟕
Name parts of an Algebraic Expression

Variable = vary
Variables (the x and y
values change)
𝟑𝒙 − 𝟐𝒚 + 𝟕

Variables
= a symbol which represents any number
from a given replacement set.
Name parts of an Algebraic Expression

Constant

𝟑𝒙 − 𝟐𝒚 + 𝟕
Name parts of an Algebraic Expression

A value that
Constant doesn’t
change!

3𝑥 − 2𝑦 + 7

Constant
= doesn’t change at all – its exactly one
number, it remains constant!
Name parts of an Algebraic Expression

Coefficient

𝟑𝒙 − 𝟐𝒚 + 𝟕
Name parts of an Algebraic Expression
Numerical
Coefficient
Coefficients should
always comes
first!
𝟑𝒙 − 𝟐𝒚 + 𝟕

Note: Coefficient could be a fraction too!

𝟑
e.g. 𝒙
𝟓
Name parts of an Algebraic Expression

𝟑𝒙 − 𝟐𝒚 + 𝟕

operators
 Vocabulary
• What is a variable?
– a letter that represents a # (value)

• What is a constant?
– A value (#) that does not change

• What is a coefficient?
– A # that is multiplied by a variable

• What is a numerical expression?

– May contain only constants and/or operations

• What is an algebraic expression?

– May contain variables, constants, and/or operations
 Let’s check your knowledge…
For the expression: 7x + 3y – 9

Name: 1. a term ____

2. the constant ____
3. a coefficient ____
4. a variable ____
5. an operator ____
 Let’s check your knowledge…Answers

For the expression: 7x + 3y – 9

Name: 1. a term 7x or 3y or 9
2. the constant -9 or 9
3. a coefficient 7 or 3
4. a variable x or y
5. an operator + or -
 Let’s check your knowledge…
Expression: 125x – 17y + 80

Name: 1. a term ____

2. the constant ____
3. a coefficient ____
4. a variable ____
5. an operator ____
 Synthesis:
Sentence Completion:

I learned that…,
I discovered that…,
I realized that…,
 What Benedictine
Hallmark is
manifested in solving
for your own x (your
future)?
 SEATWORK: Date Today:
Expression Constant Numerical Variables Number of
Coefficient Terms

1. 𝒙𝟐 + 2

𝒙𝟐
2. +x+8
𝟐

3. 𝒙𝟑 yz + 3

4. 78 x

5. 4𝒙𝟐 + 3y - 2