Introduction

to
Algebra
What is Algebra?
Algebra is the branch of
Mathematics that uses
alphabetical letters to find
unknown numbers.
 Words related in algebra.
1. Variables
- these are the letters that
represents UNKNOWN numbers.
Examples are the letters in the
alphabet.
2. Constants
– these are the values which are
known in the given expression such
as numbers.
Examples:

-5, 10, , π
3. Term
- it is a constant, a variable or a
product of constant and variable.
Each term is separate by the
addition or subtraction signs.
2, x, 2x, 6,…
Remember!
The operation preceding the
term is part of the term.
Algebraic expressions
it is a result of combining
numbers and variables with at
least one mathematical
operation.
Examples:
1. X + 4
2. - 3x
3. - 4x + 8
How2 terms
many terms
2 terms
are there
3 terms
in
number
4. Degree
- it is the highest exponent
or the highest sum of
exponents of the variables in
a term.
Examples:
1. - x + 5
the degree is 2
2. -
the degree is 7.
Find the degree of the term of the
following.
1. - + 5
The degree is 9
2. + 3 - 8
The degree is 12
3. - 3 The degree is 3
5. Coefficient
- it is a number or any symbol
representing a constant value
that is multiplied by the variable.
5x
x is the variable and 5 is the
coefficient
a. Numerical coefficient
- it is the constant/number.

b. Literal coefficient
- it is the variable including its
exponent
Example:
-3
Numerical coefficient -3
2
Literal coefficient 𝑥
 Numerical Literal
Term
Coefficient Coefficient
1. 15y 15 y
2. –xy -1 xy

3.
Similar Terms
- are terms having the same
literal coefficients.
Examples:
1. and
2. and
Dissimilar Terms
- the terms which do not have
the same literal coefficients.
Example:
1. and 3x
2. and
Tell whether the terms are similar
or dissimilar
1. and Similar

2. Dissimilar

Dissimilar
3. and
Polynomial
- is a kind of algebraic expression
where each term is a constant, a
variable or a product of a constant
and variable in which the variable
has a whole number (non-negative
number) exponent.
Kinds of Polynomial according to
the number of terms
1) Monomial – is a polynomial with
only one term
Examples are
x, y, 10, 6x,
2) Binomial
– is polynomial with two terms.
Examples:
1. X + 5
2. - 8
3) Trinomial – is a polynomial
with three terms
Examples:
1. - 7
2. 15
4) Polynomial – is a polynomial
with four or more terms
Examples:
1. + - + 3
2. + z + 9
Kinds of Polynomial according to its degree
Polynomial Degree Example
Constant 0 6
Linear 1 3x + 5
Quadratic 2 x² + x + 1
Cubic 3 7x³ - 8x
9y4 + 3
Quartic 4
2x5 + 4x3 - 8
Quintic 5
 A polynomial is in Standard
Form if its terms are arranged
from the term with the highest
degree, up to the term with the
lowest degree.
 If the polynomial is in
standard form the first term is called
the Leading Term, the numerical
coefficient of the leading term is
called the Leading Coefficient and the
exponent or the sum of the exponents
of the variable in the leading term is
the Degree of the polynomial.
Example:
5x – 4x - 2x + 3x – 10
2 5 3

Standard Form
– 4x – 2x + 5x + 3x – 10
5 3 2
 – 4x – 2x + 5x + 3x – 10
5 3 2

The term – 4x is the leading term,

5

-4 is its leading coefficient and 5 is

its degree.
It is a quintic polynomial because its
degree is 5.
 Kind of Kind of
Leading Leading Polynomial Polynomial
Given Standard Form Term
Degree
Coefficient according to the according to the
no. of terms degree

1)

2)

3)